BS EDIT: Agri-Tech’s Next Leap: Drones and Digital Tools

By Business StandardPublished On Jun 19, 2025

Tech on the Farm

India is rapidly adopting agri-drones and digital tools to boost farm productivity and rural livelihoods

Drones Deliver Efficiency

Drones spray crops 10x faster, cut chemical use, and reduce farmer exposure

Govt offers up to 100% subsidies for demos

Empowering Women & Rural Jobs

Drone Didi to provide 15,000 drones to SHGs

New Chennai facility to produce 100,000 drones by 2026

Data-Driven Agriculture

Agri Stack links land, crop, and farmer records

Pilot projects cover 436 districts for precision farming

Roadblocks Remain

High costs, low connectivity, and few trained operators limit access

Small farms face efficiency challenges

Inclusion Is Key

Focus on training, SHG ownership, and digital rights is vital

Tech must reach all farmers, not just the well-resourced