The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued guidelines to make drone technology affordable to the stakeholders of the Agriculture Sector. <\/span>These guidelines have been issued under the <\/span>Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Note:<\/b> The <\/span>financial assistance and grants under these guidelines would be available until March 31, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, <\/b>a grant of up to 100% of the cost of an agriculture drone or \u20b910 lakhs whichever is less will be provided for the purchase of drones. But this grant will be limited to only Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and State Agriculture Universities.<\/span><\/p>\n Secondly,<\/b> Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs)<\/a> would be eligible to receive grants up to 75% of the cost of agriculture drone for its demonstrations on the farmers\u2019 fields.<\/span><\/p>\n Thirdly, <\/b>a <\/span>contingency expenditure of Rs.6000 per hectare would be provided to implementing agencies that do not want to purchase drones but will hire drones for demonstrations from Custom Hiring Centers, Hi-tech Hubs, Drone Manufacturers and Start-Ups. However, they would receive only Rs 3,000\/hectare if they are purchasing the drones for demonstrations.<\/span><\/p>\n Fourthly,<\/b> Agriculture graduates establishing Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) will be eligible to\u00a0<\/span>receive 50% of the basic cost of a drone and its attachments or up to \u20b95 lakh in\u00a0<\/span>grant for drone purchases.<\/span><\/p>\n Fifthly, <\/b>existing Custom Hiring Centers which are set\u202fup by Cooperative Society of Farmers, FPOs\u202fand Rural entrepreneurs are entitled to receive 40% (maximum \u20b94 lakh) as a grant on the basic cost of the drone.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat are the guidelines issued to promote the use of drones in agriculture?<\/b><\/h5>\n