Namo Drone Didi

What is it?

Namo Drone Didi gives agricultural drones to women's Self Help Groups in rural areas. The group then provides drone services to farmers nearby - mainly spraying fertiliser and pesticide - and charges for it, which creates an income stream for the group.

The published central financial assistance is 80% of the cost of the drone and its accessories and ancillary charges, up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh. The remaining amount can be raised as a loan through the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility with 3% interest subvention.

The drone package as described officially includes the spray assembly, a carrying box, batteries, a fast charger, and accessories such as a pH meter and an anemometer, along with a one-year warranty, two years of annual maintenance and comprehensive insurance.

Training is part of the package. One member of the group receives a five-day mandatory drone pilot training plus ten days of training for agricultural use, and another member is trained as a drone assistant to handle repairs and mechanical work. The official material states the scheme is expected to generate additional income of at least Rs 1 lakh per year for each SHG.

The groups are not chosen individually on application. Clusters are selected first, based on farmer demand for drone services and economic feasibility, and SHGs registered under DAY-NRLM are then selected within those clusters.

Potential benefit

Up to ₹8,00,000 one time, per Self Help Group

Central Financial Assistance at 80% of the cost of the drone and accessories and ancillary charges, up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh per Self Help Group. The balance can be financed by a loan through the National Agriculture Infra Financing Facility with 3% interest subvention. The package includes spray assembly, carrying box, batteries, fast charger, pH meter and anemometer, a one-year warranty, two years of annual maintenance and comprehensive insurance, plus five days of drone pilot training and ten days of agriculture-use training for one member and drone assistant training for another.

Who can apply?

Other conditions stated by the government

• Open to women's Self Help Groups in rural areas registered under DAY-NRLM.
• Clusters are selected first on the basis of farmer demand for drone services and economic feasibility, and SHGs are then selected within those clusters.
• One member of the SHG must undergo the mandatory five-day drone pilot training.
• A second member is trained as a drone assistant for repairs and mechanical work.

Eligibility information is provided for informational purposes only. Final eligibility and approval are determined by the relevant government authority.

How to apply

Selection is made through the government's own cluster identification process rather than open individual application. Interested women's SHGs registered under DAY-NRLM should approach their DAY-NRLM block or district officials and the district agriculture department, since clusters are identified on the basis of farmer demand and economic feasibility before SHGs within them are selected.

Where to apply: offline

Deadline

We have not been able to confirm a current deadline from an official source. Check before applying.