Indigenous drone startup Garuda Aerospace has become the country's first company to receive a subsidy for making agri-drones, as a part of the government's efforts to promote the use of agricultural drones.

Under this, Garuda Kisan Drones were given to eight farmers at an event held in Pune, wherein drone distributors from across Maharashtra were present at the event.

Vishnu Salve, Director of Maharashtra State Agriculture Department said at the event, "We congratulate Garuda Aerospace for becoming the first drone company to avail the Agri Drone Subsidy for eight farmers who have chosen to purchase DGCA-approved Type Certified Garuda Kisan Drone. Your innovative technologies and solutions have effectively assisted and benefited numerous farmers across Maharashtra and the country".

"Your commitment to improving crop yield, reducing crop damage, and promoting sustainable agriculture practices has positively impacted the entire farming community," he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

These DGCA-approved drones for farmers can manage and monitor crop health, and detect and identify areas that require water or fertilizer. They can also be used to spray pesticides and fertilizers on crops, cutting down on manual labour and increasing efficiency.

With this subsidy, Garuda Aerospace will expand its operations and make its drones more accessible to farmers across the country.

Lauding the initiative, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, of Garuda Aerospace said, "We are thrilled to be the first company to receive this subsidy for our agricultural drones. Our drones have already proven to be a game-changer in the agriculture sector, and this subsidy will enable us to reach even more farmers throughout India. Drones in agriculture are still in their early stages in India, our vision is to transform and promote the use of drone technology in the agriculture sector."

According to the ANI report, this subsidy is just one of many initiatives launched by the centre to support India's drone industry, which is expected to increase agricultural productivity and reduce food waste.

Image courtesy: ANI