A New Chapter in Modern Farming: Farmers Will Get 'Drone Sprayer' Facility Through Cooperative Societies

Modern farming enters a new chapter as cooperative societies provide farmers with a drone sprayer facility. Revenue Minister Mr. Tank Ram Verma inaugurated the scheme. Five societies have deployed 11 drones, and the Cooperative Department aims to cover 50,000 acres with drone spraying this year. Twenty‑seven employees and society managers were honored, and KCC checks were distributed to farmers. In Raipur, the Balodabazar‑Bhatapara district achieved a historic milestone by officially launching the drone sprayer service in five primary agricultural cooperative societies. Minister Verma, during a ceremony at the New Agricultural Produce Market complex, performed rituals and inaugurated the ambitious initiative. Trained drone pilots demonstrated the drone sprayer amid light rain, showcasing precise fertilizer and pesticide application, time savings, lower costs and improved farm management. The minister said the technology will save considerable time and cost, ensure balanced chemical use, reduce labor, and prevent crop damage by eliminating the need to enter fields. He also noted that the "Drone Didi" initiative will provide skill development and livelihood opportunities for rural women and youth. The minister appealed to farmers to shift from chemical to natural and organic farming, emphasizing sustainable practices and soil fertility. Drones are now available in the cooperative societies of Balodabazar, Kasdol, Baya, Girra (Palari) and Damakheda (Simga), with a target to spray about 50,000 acres this year. Farmers must apply for spraying dates and acreage at their respective societies; a fee per acre will be charged. All societies have become fully computerized, operating as CSCs and mini‑banks with micro‑ATM facilities, eliminating the need for farmers to approach large banks for withdrawals of Rs 10‑20 thousand. Seventeen society managers and ten employees received certificates for outstanding performance in the 2025‑26 rice procurement and e‑PACS work, and nine farmers received KCC checks while two received learning licences. The event was attended by the municipal chairperson, former MLA Pramod Sharma, district panchayat officials and senior cooperative department officers.