Drones For Agriculture

29th February, 2024, National: Focused on creating a positive impact in India’s agriculture sector, Garuda Aerospace continues to expand its market share through partnerships and collaboration. Supporting the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi’s visionary initiative to empower women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs), Garuda Aerospace today announces that it has secured an order of a total of 500 Garuda Kisan Drones from 10 leading fertiliser companies under the NaMo Drone Didi scheme.  National Fertilizers Limited (NFL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF), The Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT), Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Limited (HURL), KRIBHCO Fertilizers, Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC), Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer Corporation (BVFCL), Matix Fertilizers & Chemicals, Paradeep Phosphates (PPL), and Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilizers (MCF) are the 10 companies which have placed an order for Garuda Aerospace’s Kisan drones under the scheme.

Garuda Aerospace’s Kisan drones can support with spraying of fertilisers and pesticides. Given its precision capabilities, Kisan drones can reduce the quantity of pesticides used in addition to eliminating long exposures to harmful chemicals. Kisan drones are equipped with AI, ML and GPS sensors to help farmers with accurate and real-time information about their crops and farms. The drones also reduce the use of water and are equipped to cover large farming areas in a relatively shorter time. Garuda Kisan Drones can help increase crop yield by 60% and reduce loss of crop by 20%.

Speaking on adding another 500 Kisan Drones to the company’s order book, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO of Garuda Aerospace said, “Drones have the power to transform farming and agriculture in India. At Garuda Aerospace, we have been front runners advocating the use of agriculture drones for multiple proposes. The order of 500 Kisan drones is a win for us as a company as well as the agriculture economy. It will improve efficiency and enable farmers to harness the numerous benefits of this revolutionary technology. We are confident that this partnership with the 10 fertiliser companies under the NaMo Drone Didi scheme will go a long way.”

Announced in December 2023, the NAMO Drone Didi scheme helps women become integral stakeholders of their local farming supply chains and rural prosperity. Garuda Aerospace has successfully trained over 185 rural women under this scheme since its launch.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had flagged off Garuda Aerospace’s Kisan Drone Yathra by simultaneously launching 100 drones across 100 Indian villages. The Yathra aimed to create awareness and democratise the use of drones and drone technology within the agriculture sector. Backed by MS Dhoni who is an investor and brand ambassador in the start-up, Garuda Aerospace raised INR 25 crore in a bridge round in October 2023 and is currently preparing for its IPO in 2024.