New Delhi, February 14: Jammu & Kashmir has received only 2 agricultural drones under the Centre’s ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme—placing it among the lowest recipients nationwide—according to data shared in Parliament on Friday.
The information was provided by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
The ‘Namo Drone Didi’ scheme, approved as a Central Sector Scheme with an outlay of ₹1,261 crore for the period 2023–24 to 2025–26, aims to provide drones to Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to promote modern agricultural practices and enhance income opportunities in rural areas.
As per the Department of Fertilizers, Lead Fertilizer Companies (LFCs) have distributed 1,094 drones to SHGs during 2023–24 using their internal resources. Of these, 500 drones were distributed specifically under the Namo Drone Didi scheme.
Compared to Jammu & Kashmir’s two drones, larger allocations were recorded in states such as Karnataka (145), Uttar Pradesh (128), Andhra Pradesh (108), Haryana (102), and Madhya Pradesh (89). Several smaller states such as Goa (1), Himachal Pradesh (4), and Uttarakhand (3) also reported limited distribution.
Women members of the beneficiary SHGs, referred to as “Drone Didis,” have been trained as drone pilots at Remote Pilot Training Organizations authorised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
A study conducted by the Agricultural Development and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC), Bengaluru, on the 500 drones provided under the scheme found that SHGs previously engaged mainly in agriculture and allied activities have expanded into technology-driven farming practices through drone adoption. The study noted improvements in efficiency, productivity and income diversification among women in rural communities.
The scheme is part of the government’s broader push to integrate advanced technologies into agriculture and empower women-led self-help groups through new livelihood avenues.
