Launched under the Union Government’s Namo Drone Didi scheme, this initiative aims to empower rural women by placing them at the heart of the agricultural supply chain, not as labourers, but as technology-enabled entrepreneurs. In Tamil Nadu, the first cohort is already operational, flying high above the expectations that once confined them to domestic roles.
Nandhini now spends her mornings navigating the skies above one-acre plots, spraying fertilizers and pesticides for local farmers at ₹400 per acre. “What takes a man an entire day, my drone and I can finish in seven minutes,” she says with a soft smile, her eyes scanning the next field. Most of her clients are small-scale farmers with holdings of 1 to 4 acres and many, like her, are seeing farming in a new light.
The journey began with five days of intensive training in Chennai, conducted by Garuda Aerospace Private Ltd. From drone mechanics to maintenance, and from GPS calibration to safe pesticide handling, the women were taught to treat the drone, a 30 kg machine with twin tanks and powerful rotors, not as intimidating tech, but as a partner in progress.
Each trainee left the program with a drone worth ₹7 lakh, provided free of cost. Equipped with a battery pack and sprayers, these machines are powerful but not without their challenges. The battery lasts only about one acre, meaning frequent recharging is required. Transport is another hurdle, carrying the fully loaded drone across rural terrain often requires a second pair of hands.
And then there’s the human challenge: trust.
“At first, farmers were hesitant,” Nandhini admits. “They didn’t believe a woman, let alone a drone, could do this job better than the traditional way. But now, they call me before the planting season begins.”
The results speak for themselves. Uniform spraying, reduced pesticide exposure for workers, and major time savings are winning farmers over, one acre at a time. What’s more, the model offers rural women an alternate income stream in areas where opportunities are scarce and seasonal.
Yet, the success of ‘Drone Didis’ isn’t just about agriculture. It’s about identity.
“These women are no longer just wives, daughters, or farmhands. They are certified pilots. Entrepreneurs. Providers,” says a trainer at Garuda Aerospace. The initiative is also nudging policymakers to think beyond training: affordable batteries, lighter drone models, and better transport infrastructure are now the next step in scaling impact.
In a country where farming and technology often seem to exist in parallel worlds, the women of Tamil Nadu are proving otherwise. By blending ancient soils with cutting-edge machines, they’re not just growing crops. They’re growing futures.
