Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that the use of drones in the farm sector can generate up to 50 lakh job opportunities in the huge rural economy in one year alone.
Gadkari stated that he has discussed the necessity to establish a policy on the use of drone technology in agriculture with his two cabinet colleagues.
He was addressing farmers and others who had gathered in Nagpur for the closing ceremony of the 'Agrovision' exhibition. The Nagpur Lok Sabha MP is the chief patron of Agrovision, an annual summit on agriculture.
Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane paid a visit to the exhibition on Monday, while Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar attended the four-day event's inaugural celebration on December 24.
"I discussed with Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Union MSME minister Narayan Rane (the need) to work on drafting a policy on (use of) drones in the farm sector," Gadkari said, talking about numerous opportunities in the agriculture sector.
"Drone is related with agro and MSME, and drones alone can generate about 50 lakh jobs in the rural sector in one year. Besides, it will benefit farmers too," he maintained.
The minister emphasized the need of eliminating mechanized pesticide spraying, citing his own experience with drones on his farm.
Gadkari stated that a drone powered by a lithium-ion battery would cost approximately 6 lakh, but the identical unmanned aerial vehicle with a flex engine and run on ethanol fuel, would come at a much cheaper price of around ₹ 1.5 lakh.
According to the Road Transport and Highways Minister, spraying pesticides from drones would require 'pilots' to operate them, which will provide a large number of job opportunities.
Tomar released a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of drones in farm sector last week, including spraying pesticides and other soil and crop nutrients.
The adoption of drone technology is the need of the hour and it will benefit farmers, Tomar had said.
