Gandhinagar: In the past nine months, 58 ‘drone didis‘ earned Rs 24.66 lakh through spraying pesticides on farms, the state govt said on Monday. State agriculture and rural development minister Raghavji Patel said the govt plans to train 206 more women from self-help groups to earn a living by spraying pesticides using drones.
“At present, 58 women from rural areas have become drone didis and have a new source of income. These 58 drone didis, associated with self-help groups, sprayed pesticides over 8,000 acres of land for more than 3,000 farmers in just nine months, earning over 24.66 lakh rupees,” an official statement said.
In the initial phase of the Namo drone didi Scheme in 2023-24, some fertiliser companies provided drones to women from self-help groups .
IFFCO provided 18 drones, Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited gave 20 and Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals Limited provided 20 drones apart from training 58 women.