Jabalpur, 16 May (HS). As part of efforts to promote the use of drone technology in agriculture, the Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development Department on Thursday demonstrated spraying of pesticides using drones in the field of farmer Omkar Patel of village Udna Road in Patan development block. In this demonstration held in the presence of agricultural officers and nearby farmers, the first drone pilot of the district, Nilesh Patel of Patan, sprayed pesticide through a drone.
On this occasion, farmers were told that liquid fertilizers and pesticides can be sprayed on one acre of crop using drones in about 8 to 10 minutes. Not only does this save time, it also reduces the amount of pesticides and fertilizers required due to uniform spraying on the crops. Spraying directly on the leaves of the crop does not destroy the fertility of the soil.
Sub-divisional Agriculture Officer, Patan, Dr. Indira Tripathi, who was present on the spot, said that under the Submission on Agriculture Mechanization Scheme, the government will provide fifty percent and a maximum of Rs 5 lakh to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Marginal farmers and women farmers for purchasing drones, and forty percent to other farmers. Percentage and maximum grant is given up to Rs 4 lakh. Apart from this, the Farmer Producer Company is eligible for a grant of 75 percent and a maximum of Rs 7.5 lakh on the purchase of a drone.
Senior Agriculture Development Officer SK Yadav, Agriculture Development Officer JP Tripathi were also present during the drone demonstration. On this occasion, among the farmers willing to spray fertilizers and pesticides through drones were Gopal Das Sahu, Rohini Badal, Nimit Patel, Vineet Patel, Nikhil Sahu, Pawan Patel, Raj Bahadur Patel, Shambhu Patel, Bhagwati Yadav, Lakshmi Patel, Arun Patel and Mahendra Patel and other farmers got their nominations done.