In Sargaon of Mungeli district, Godavari Sahu is showing how technology can save both time and money in agriculture. A member of the Jai Mata Di women’s self help group under Bihan, she has been trained under the Namo Drone Didi Yojana to operate agricultural drones. After 15 days of theory and practical training in Gwalior through IFFCO, followed by a five day technology course in Phulpur, she now provides drone based spraying services to farmers. She uses drones to spray nano urea, nano DAP and crop protection chemicals. She says a drone can cover about 20 to 25 acres in a single day. For farmers, especially those with tall crops such as sugarcane, this offers a practical alternative to manual spraying. Earlier, workers had to walk through dense crop fields carrying sprayers, spending more time, labour and money. Now the same task can be completed faster, with less physical strain and potentially more uniform coverage.
This is more than a machinery story. It is a bet on women led rural enterprise. By equipping selected self help group members with drones, training and financial support, the programme gives women a new technical skill and a possible source of income. For women such as Godavari, the drone is more than equipment. It changes how rural entrepreneurship is understood. Instead of being limited to traditional livelihood activities, women can become trained service providers in a modern farm economy. They can assist farmers, build local trust and earn through a service that is needed during key crop stages.
Why does this matter. Agriculture often depends on timely action. A delayed pesticide spray can damage a crop. A delayed nutrient application can affect yield. In this context, speed matters as much as cost. Drone based spraying can help farmers cover larger areas quickly, particularly when labour is scarce or crops are difficult to enter by foot. The benefits can be significant. Farmers can reduce the time needed for spraying. Labour requirements may decline during peak agricultural periods. Tall and densely planted crops can be treated without workers entering the field. Women’s self help groups can create a new local service enterprise. Farmers gain access to modern tools without having to buy costly equipment themselves.
The real test will be aftercare and affordability. Will drones remain functional with access to spare parts and repair services. Will operators get regular technical support so that breakdowns do not stall operations. Will service rates be transparent so that small and marginal farmers can afford the technology. Will safe use be enforced, with approved dosage, weather conditions and safety practices while applying fertilisers or crop protection chemicals. And will the scheme track outcomes, such as cost saved per acre and yield impact, not just drones distributed, so that success is measured by farm gains. If these pieces fall into place, Namo Drone Didi can become a template for other districts.
For Godavari, the gain is direct. A new skill. A new role. A new income stream. For farmers, it is faster spraying and lower labour bills. That is the true measure of this push: not just the drones handed out, but the time saved, the money retained and the women empowered.
