Drone Didis Take Flight: Rural Women Soar to New Heights in Indian Agriculture

The country's agricultural profile is being given a revolutionary fillip as farm women fly into action as pilots of drones. The "Namo Drone Didi" and "Drone Sister" projects are empowering lakhs of rural women across India with the latest technology and capabilities. These programmes equip women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with agriculture drones as well as overall training to deliver drone services in crop spraying, mapping, and monitoring. With up to ₹60,000 potential monthly earnings, these women are becoming economically empowered and pushing at the boundaries of traditional gender norms. The scheme plans to induct 15,000 women pilots by 2026, transforming agricultural cultivation while developing rural entrepreneurship. With these "Drone Didis" assuming the reins of the skies, they're not just flying drones – they're navigating a path toward social change and economic empowerment for rural India.

 

Sources: The Tribune, Economic Times, Times of India