CHANDIGARH, June 12 —To modernise agriculture, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini directed officials to launch a drone-based pilot project to identify crop diseases across the state. The initiative, he said, would initially focus on potato, gram, cotton, and paddy, along with select vegetables.
Chairing the 9th board meeting of Drone Imaging and Information Services of Haryana Limited (DRIISHYA) in Chandigarh, Saini said drone technology would revolutionise farming and disaster management in the state.
“Drone technology can give a new direction to agriculture and help protect farmers’ interests by detecting diseases early,” said the Chief Minister. He also stressed on the need to expedite the ‘Drone Didi’ scheme, under which women are trained to operate agricultural drones.
Saini also instructed officials to ensure that drone use is extended to natural farming practices, particularly for spraying Jiv Amrit, an organic input. “Farmers must be directly involved in this pilot project. They should receive proper training to handle this advanced technology,” he added.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar, and senior officials from various departments. The state government sees the project as a critical step toward empowering farmers and making agriculture more technologically driven and sustainable.
