IFFCO starts training women as drone pilots

"It is a historic day today as Agriculture Drone Training of First Batch of Women Drone Pilots is started by IFFCO at Gwalior and it’s Phulpur plant in Prayag, Uttar Pradesh," says IFFCO Managing Director Dr U S Awasthi. "Initially, we will give training to 300 women," he said in a tweet.

#IFFCOKisanDrone pilots which is in line with Hon’ble PM Sh. @narendramodi ji’s “Lakhapati Didi Yojna”, he said on microblogging site X. "A new initiative & vision by Hon’ble PM to train women-led self-help groups in operating and repairing drones. At IFFCO, we are committed to farmer and women development for the growth of country," he noted 

Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had recently inspected the composite IFFCO Kisan Drone arrangements including the electric vehicle in which it will carry the Agri drone. On the occasion, IFFCO MD Dr Awasthi had apprised the Union Minister about its features and how it can spray the farm fields. IFFCO Marketing Director Yogendra Kumar also accompanied him.

Sharing photos of the event through ‘X’, Awasthi wrote, “IFFCO Kisan Drone arrangements including the Electric Vehicle are a new innovation in Agriculture. At IFFCO, we are committed to farmers. It’s a long way to go in developing farm technology and moving ahead to Agriculture 2.0 for the benefit of farmers and better soil nutrient management for our soils”.

IFFCO is also procuring 2,500 electric three-wheelers to carry drones to the farmers. The drone will be equipped with all the modern technologies. The cost of a drone is around Rs 13.50 lakh. A drone can cover 20 acres per day. These drones will serve as cutting-edge spray solutions for IFFCO's revolutionary products, Nano Urea and Nano DAP.

All mandatory protocols related to drones, their transport vehicle and safe flying are inbuilt into this process and coordinated by farmer friendly mobile App, a report said. A unique electric tri-wheeler has been especially designed for the safe transport of drones to farmers' fields.

An integrated software platform that can run under any mobile would be available for farmers that would connect all users (drone operator, farmer, field officer and central control unit). This would help to monitor the drones on a dynamic basis and monitor the spray efficiency (acre/day) remotely. Besides, the app would help the farmers to book spray well in advance comfortably just by a click in the app.

The hi-tech initiative not only aligns with the goal of sustainable agriculture but also promotes the holistic development of cooperatives and upliftment of the rural economy. “To access the technical capabilities, manufacturing capacity, manufacturing process, quality processes, training curriculum, infrastructure IFFCO Management hired a reputed consultant, M/s Drone Federation of India, New Delhi. 

"M/s Drone Federation of India evaluated the specifications and mentioned that the technical specifications of Agri Drones being procured by IFFCO for spray of Nano Fertilizers are in accordance with industry standards," an IFFCO statement said.

IFFCO has introduced and invested in various pathbreaking agro-technologies including Nanotechnology based fertilizers, promotion of agri-drones, rural e-commerce, digitally enabling farmers and farms, IoT etc.

IFFCO aims to be the flag-bearer of the modern Indian Agriculture by being the brand resonating with innovators and progressive rural-entrepreneurs aiming at Sustainable Agriculture, the statement added.