Women in Telangana's self-help groups are breaking traditional barriers by mastering drone technology. This shift is transforming them from subsistence farmers into high-tech agri-entrepreneurs, enhancing crop yields and personal livelihoods.
- Women from SHGs in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri are being trained as certified drone pilots for precision farming.
- Strategic partnerships between DRDA, Hetero, and MIRAI are facilitating technical training and equipment access.
- The initiative integrates financial subsidies via PMEGP to ensure the business viability of drone services.
In the serene landscapes of Motakondur village in Telangana’s Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, a new sound is dominating the fields: the hum of agricultural drones. 33-year-old Usirika Sandhya, a member of a local self-help group (SHG), is now operating these sophisticated machines to spray pesticides, completing in minutes what used to take hours of grueling manual labor.
For Sandhya, the adoption of drone technology was born out of necessity and care. Her husband, Mahesh, suffered chronic health issues due to prolonged exposure to chemical pesticides during manual spraying. Motivated to protect her family's health and seek a sustainable income, Sandhya leveraged the support of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the Zilla Samakhya to undergo a specialized 10-day training program.
BozokMedia analysis shows that this transition represents a pivotal shift in the operational model of Self-Help Groups. Historically, SHGs focused on micro-finance and small-scale crafts; however, the pivot toward 'Agri-Tech' signifies a leap toward high-value service provision. By positioning women as the primary operators of drones, Telangana is effectively dismantling gender stereotypes in STEM and agriculture.
The scale of this initiative is expanding rapidly. Around 35 women across 13 mandals have been trained, with an additional 50 trainees in the neighboring Nalgonda district. District Collector Anuraag Jayanti emphasizes that the goal is to create a sustainable ecosystem of self-employment where women provide essential tech-services to other farmers in the region.
"The integration of drones in rural farming is not just about efficiency; it is about reducing human toxicity and introducing precision agriculture to the smallest landholdings."
To ensure these ventures are financially sustainable, the government is facilitating access to the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), offering subsidies of up to 35% of the unit cost. According to N. Vijaya Suseel, director of MIRAI, the training encompasses the entire business lifecycle—from mobilizing farmers and conducting field demos to scheduling operations and managing customer relations.
Q1: How do women SHG members fund the purchase of expensive drones?
A: They utilize a combination of bank loans and government subsidies through schemes like PMEGP and support from the DRDA.
Q2: What certifications are required to operate these drones commercially?
A: Pilots must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to offer professional services.
