Govt. to Provide Drone Training to Farmers to Boost Smart Farming
As part of the state government’s recently launched initiative to encourage aerial pesticide and fertilizer spraying, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha announced on Monday that a select group of farmers will receive official training in drone operation.
The program, which was launched under the “Popularization of Aerial Spray of Limited Fertilizers and Pesticides by Drone” scheme for the fiscal year 2025–2026, intends to incorporate cutting-edge technologies into agricultural practices throughout the state. One farmer from each of the 101 subdivisions in the state will be chosen and trained as part of the program. A total of ₹35,000 will be set aside for each farmer’s training.
Sinha claims that the entire amount spent on subsidies for the current fiscal year is ₹3.68 crore. In order to improve the quality of Bihar’s agricultural output, he continued, the program aims to increase smart farming, decrease manual labor, and guarantee the timely and effective application of crop treatments.
A subsidy of up to ₹3.65 lakh, or 60% of the drone’s cost, whichever is less, will be available to each chosen beneficiary. The individual beneficiary will be responsible for the remaining sum. In addition to individual farmers, the program is available to farmer producer organizations (FPOs), agriclinics, self-help groups (SHGs), licensed pesticide retailers, and agricultural machine banks.
Additionally, Sinha mentioned that the OFMAS (Online Farm Mechanization Application System) portal is the only way to apply for the subsidy. It is anticipated that the program will help farmers increase productivity while reducing input waste by laying the foundation for a wider adoption of precision farming technologies.
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