Gujarat : Drone Didi Revolutionizes Agriculture

Gandhinagar : Ashaben Chaudhary, 31, a resident of Talepura village in Deesa taluka of Banaskantha district comes from a family that is involved with animal husbandry and agriculture. With a background in mechanical engineering, Ashaben now applies her skills by using drones to spray insecticides, demonstrating the success and impact of the Drone Didi program.

Reflecting on her journey of flying a drone, Ashaben shares, “Initially, I knew nothing about drones however my active participation in Sakhi Mandal programs led me to discover the Drone Didi initiative. In 2023, I underwent a 15-day training course in Pune. This followed an interview at IFFCO and an exam in Pune, where I was tested on both drone operations and DGCA regulations. Following this training, I began using drones for insecticide spraying in Banaskantha, and now, I am never short of work.”

Ashaben has been provided a medium-sized drone, an e-vehicle for transporting it to the fields, and a generator set to ensure power availability in areas with limited electricity. Utilising these resources, she has successfully sprayed crops such as castor, groundnut, papaya, millet, and fennel across the fields of various farmers. Remarkably, in just six months she has earned over one lakh through her work.

Ashaben explains the benefits of drone-assisted pesticide spraying, saying, “Drones streamline the spraying process, significantly saving time and resources. The drones consume less pesticide and water yet ensures effective coverage. A drone can cover an acre of land in just seven minutes, making it especially useful for tall crops like fennel. I also facilitate the registration of farmers who use drones on the iKhedut portal to ensure they receive compensation from the state government.”

Operating drones requires meticulous attention. She inputs a field map into the drone and calibrates the compass to ensure precise operation in the designated fields. As a result, her reputation among local farmers is growing rapidly, and she is receiving excellent feedback. 

She happily shares, “I am receiving constant calls from Surendranagar and Ahmedabad, leaving me with no free time during the season and keeping me incredibly busy. I take immense joy in this work, and my example is often used in the community to inspire young girls.

Ashaben heads the Ashapuri Sakhimandal and, together with many other Sakhimandals, inspires women to achieve self-reliance. A mother of two daughters, Ashaben gets strong family support in her efforts. Inspiring women throughout the state, she says, “Success isn’t just limited to having a government job. The government provides various schemes and opportunities. I urge women to actively participate in these initiatives. I am quite satisfied with balancing my work and family life.

The initiative plans to distribute 500 to 1,000 drones to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across the country during the year 2023-24. In Gujarat, IFFCO, GSFC, and GNFC have collectively distributed drones to 58 women from the SHGs.