PM Modi flags off 100 Kisan Drones, would provide numerous business opportunities to MSMEs

New Delhi, Feb 19 (KNN) In a bid to help farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has flagged off 100 Kisan drones in different cities and towns of India to spray pesticides in farms across the country.

"This is a new chapter in the direction of modern agricultural facilities of the 21st century. I am confident that this beginning will not only prove to be a milestone in the development of the drone sector but will also open the sky to unlimited possibilities," said PM Modi.

"I have been told that Garuda Aerospace has set a target of manufacturing 1 lakh Made in India drones in the next 2 years. This will generate fresh employment and new opportunities for the youth," he added.

He said his government will ensure that there is no impediment in the sector's development and has already undertaken several reforms and policy measures to facilitate its rise. 

This is an example of how high the country can fly if policies are right, Modi said, noting that drones were mostly associated with the defence sector until a few years back. 

This is a new chapter in providing modern farming facilities in the 21st century, and not only will it prove to be a milestone in the development of the drone sector but also open infinite possibilities, he said.

The prime minister said his government did not waste time on apprehensions about opening up the drone sector but trusted India's young talent and moved ahead with a new mindset.

He said his government has given priority to technology and innovations in the Budget and policy measures. 

Noting that drones have diverse usages, Modi said, they have been used in the 'Swamitva Yojana' aimed at creating a record of land ownership in villages and transporting medicines and vaccines. 

MSMEs are integral and inalienable part of every industry, including drones. The small and medium scale enterprises provide components to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and top tier manufacturers and play a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of the supply chain.

The recently announced PLI scheme will attract huge investments into the sector and would provide numerous business opportunities to MSMEs in the country. 

The government also announced provisions for the MSMEs unlike in the case of the PLI scheme for the other sectors. 

Under drone manufacturing, MSMEs with an annual turnover of Rs. 2 crores and drone component manufacturing MSMEs with an annual turnover of Rs. 50 lakhs will be eligible for incentives.

Farmers can adapt to various circumstances and make thoughtful decisions with the help of an agriculture drone. Crop health, crop treatment, crop scouting, irrigation, field soil analysis, and crop damage assessments are all aided by the information gathered through drones. 

Drone-based surveys increase crop yields while reducing time and costs. “Garuda's Drone-based agriculture spraying operations have been shown to be 80 percent more successful than humans using hand sprayers to control locust infestations”, the company portfolio said.

They were also demonstrated to be 250 percent more efficient in terms of time savings and crop safety, it added.  

Garuda's Agricultural Drones are unmanned aerial vehicles that help with agricultural production, crop growth monitoring, and agriculture operation optimization. 

Prime Minister said 'Kisan Drones' is the beginning of a new revolution. Farmers can use high-capacity drones in the coming times to transport their produce like fruits, vegetables, and flowers to markets in a minimal time, boosting their income. (KNN/AT)