Why Rural India Needs Women Drone Pilots

Why in News?

• Women’s empowerment is the key to building a strong and developed nation. This is especially the case when women flourish economically and contribute to rural prosperity.
• One such initiative, NAMO Drone Didi, was announced by the Prime Minister recently during interaction with beneficiaries of central government’s schemes.

Key Features of NAMO Drone Didi Initiative

• To Modernise Agriculture Practices
  • The initiative aims to supply drones to 15,000 women Self Help Groups (SHGs) to rent to farmers for agriculture purposes.
  • It is an excellent example of harnessing technological innovation to empower rural women.
  • The NAMO Drone Didi initiative positions rural women at the forefront of the rural economy by integrating cutting-edge drone technology into agriculture.
  • Also, it addresses the need to modernise agricultural practices and boost productivity.
• To Make Women as Pioneers of Agricultural Revolution
  • By placing drone technology in the hands of women pilots from SHGs, the initiative seeks to make them pivotal in spearheading a new agricultural revolution, effectively utilising technology for rural empowerment.
  • The NAMO Drone Didi Scheme creates new employment opportunities for rural women as drone pilots, mechanics, and spare-part dealers, contributing to their empowerment and making them the backbone of the rural economy.
• Opportunities for Start-ups: The scheme not only empowers women but also opens avenues for dynamic start-ups in the field of drone aeronautics, tapping into significant untapped potential in this emerging sector.
• An Effective Option as Fertigation System
  • The emergence of innovative new liquid fertilisers like Nano Urea and Nano DAP with the foliar application has generated the need for the development of an efficient fertigation system.
  • Putting drone technology in the hands of women pilots from SHGs could be an excellent idea since these drones can become fertigation systems.
• Equitable Agrarian Family Culture: The initiative is expected to promote equity and strength in agrarian family culture, with women drone pilots playing a vital role in enhancing agricultural productivity and efficiency.
• Time and Labor Savings: The application of pesticides and liquid fertilisers through drones not only saves farmers from physical toil and hardships but also offers a quicker, more efficient method, allowing time for more productive agricultural work.

India’s Fertiliser Challenges

• Huge Importer of Fertilisers: Though India is the second-largest producer of fertilisers, it is also the second-largest importer due to inadequate availability of natural resources — gas, phosphatic and potassic minerals, etc.
• Pandemic and Geopolitical Situation
  • The Covid-19 pandemic and the recent global geopolitical situation posed tough challenges to the sector.
  • Fertiliser prices soared the world over to unprecedented levels and then India decided to convert these challenges into opportunities.

 How Did India Overcome These Challenges?

• Revival and Setting up New Plants
  • To overcome this dependence on imports, the government has facilitated the revival of several closed-down fertiliser units and encouraged the setting up of new units under the Atmanirbhar Bharat scheme.
  • These steps have successfully protected Indian farmers from the price volatility of fertilisers in the international markets.
• Fertiliser Subsidies: Through fertiliser subsidies, the government has been able to ensure that adequate quantities of fertiliser are made available to farmers at the right price at the right time.
• Development of an Efficient Fertigation System
  • The government encouraged indigenous research for the development of alternate fertilisers, the outcome of which is the path-breaking liquid nano fertiliser.
  • The next challenge after this new invention was to develop an efficient fertigation system.
  • That is where the emerging drone technology provided an answer.

The Role of Kisan Drones as an Efficient Fertigation System

• The emergence of Kisan Drones has opened up immense possibilities towards revolutionising agricultural practices.
• The conventional system of spraying pesticides and liquid fertilisers through hand-held back-strapped pumps is not only time-consuming and cumbersome but is also fraught with dangers from the poisonous reptiles and lurking wild animals in the fields.
• The automation of the spraying system by means of agri-drones provides a time-saving and efficient application system.

The Future Prospect of NAMO Drone Didi Initiative

• Gamechanger for Women’s Empowerment and Rural Economy
  • The NAMO Drone Didi scheme is poised to be a gamechanger, ushering in a new era of women's empowerment.
  • It can address multiple challenges by placing rural women at the centre of economic activity and rural prosperity.
• Modern Agricultural Revolution: Supported by the network of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samriddhi Kendras, the initiative is anticipated to be a harbinger of a modern-day agricultural revolution.

Conclusion

• Women’s empowerment is a prerequisite for achieving Viksit Bharat or developed India.
• The NAMO Drone Didi Scheme provides new work opportunities to women making them the backbone of the rural economy.

Q1) What is One Nation One Fertiliser Scheme?

Under ONOF companies are allowed to display their name, brand, logo and other relevant product information only on one-third space of their bags. On the remaining two-thirds space, the “Bharat” brand and Pradhanmantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana logo will have to be shown.

Q2) What is the Kisan Drone Scheme?

Kisan Drone Scheme' was launched by the Union Agriculture Minister of India. Kisan Drone Scheme was launched in February 2022. In This Scheme, 100 drones are provided by the government to the Indian farmer. 

Source: The Indian Express