Empowering Women Farmers: TN Government Trains 44 Women to Operate Drones for Agriculture

The Tamil Nadu government has trained 44 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) across 28 districts to operate drones for agricultural activities like fertilizer application. As part of the first phase of the initiative under the Tamil Nadu State Rural Livelihood Mission—funded by the Union and state governments in a 60:40 ratio—the women were provided unmanned aerial vehicles and professional training. The Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation supported the implementation.

Farmers needing drone services can now connect with these licensed women pilots through their SHGs. Their details have been integrated into the Uzhavar mobile app under the category “Agricultural Machinery for Rental.” Given that women undertake most agricultural work in villages, the government has been implementing various initiatives through SHGs to enhance their livelihoods.

The initiative highlights the efficiency of drones in pesticide spraying compared to traditional methods. With rural farm labour declining, drone technology enables faster coverage of large farmlands while reducing costs and water consumption.

S Usha Lakshmi, a 41-year-old woman from Thoothukudi district, is one of the trained drone operators. A member of an SHG for the past two years, she owns a small farm and was selected for the training due to her engineering background. “We received 15 days of intensive training and obtained drone pilot licenses,” she said.

Using drones for pesticide or fertilizer application costs ₹500 per acre, compared to ₹600–700 with conventional methods. Moreover, drones can cover over 30 acres daily, while battery sprayers manage only 2–3 acres.

This initiative is a step towards modernizing agriculture while empowering rural women with advanced technology.