11 March 2024, New Delhi: Coromandel International partnered with the Indian Government’s “Namo Drone Didi” Scheme. The company announced the delivery of 200 drones to women from Self Help Groups (SHGs) for modernising farming.
In an event organised by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers spanning across 11 locations in the country, including Manikyammaguda in Rangareddy District, and Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually handed over 1,000 drones, including 200 drones supplied by Coromandel International, to the members of various SHGs.
The drones supplied by Coromandel will be used by the women SHG members in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. The company has also trained the local women pilots to operate these drones.
The drones delivered by Coromandel International were manufactured by the company’s subsidiary Dhaksha Unmanned Systems, a drone manufacturer in the country. These drones encompass a wide range of cutting-edge solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of farmers. The features include built-in safety features like anti-collision sensors, RTL features for a safe landing, etc and are equipped with high-quality nozzles that can cover up to 30 acres of spraying per day.
The “Namo Drone Didi” Scheme is aimed at empowering rural women by training them to be drone pilots and making them integral stakeholders of the local farming supply chains. As part of the scheme, the government aims to help 15,000 women-led SHGs with agricultural drones for crop monitoring, spraying fertilisers and crop protection chemicals.
Arun Alagappan, Executive Vice Chairman, Coromandel International Limited said, “With agriculture being the backbone of our economy, Coromandel International, as a leading agri solutions provider, recognises the significance of modernising farming techniques to ensure sustainable food production and economic growth.
The 200 drones delivered by Coromandel intended for use by the SHGs were supplied by the company’s subsidiary Dhaksha. In addition to supplying drones, comprehensive training and technical support will be provided to the farmers to ensure they harness the full potential of the technology at their disposal.
Supporting the Government’s vision, Coromandel aims to strengthen agricultural infrastructure and contribute to the prosperity of farmers by advancing agricultural innovation to the Indian farms.”
