Kurnool: The implementation of Kisan Drones initiative in the agricultural sector is facing hurdles due to a shortage of certified pilots, posing a challenge to the state government's well-appreciated plan.
For one, the mandatory requirement that pilot trainees must possess a passport has affected the training programme. However, very few of them in these areas have passports. Due to this, farmer groups are facing difficulty in identifying youths for the pilot training.
The government proposed to provide 159 drone sprayers — 75 for Kurnool and 84 for Nandyal in the first phase. There are 466 Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) spread across 25 mandals in Kurnool, while Nandyal district has 411 RBKs across 28 mandals.
The pilot training programme was launched by the agriculture department at Lam farm in Guntur sometime ago. So far, only around 10 individuals from 21 mandals in Kurnool have been identified for operating the 75 drones. Of these, only seven have attended the training session. Nandyal district is experiencing an analogous situation.
Agriculture officials said that as per the guidelines issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation candidates enrolling for drone pilot training must possess a passport.
The Central government has made the passport a compulsory requirement to ensure the credentials of drone pilots in view of the potential for its misuse and harm to society.
Under the current scheme, when the state government provides drone sprayers to farmer groups, it collects 10 per cent of the beneficiary contributions and offers a 40 per cent subsidy. A bank loan is also provided to cover the remaining 50 per cent of the equipment's cost. Presently, the cost of a drone is about Rs 10 lakh.
A functionary of the RBK in Kalluru mandal said that they are encouraging young individuals recommended by farmers' groups to obtain passports from the Passport Seva Kendra at the earliest.
