Centre to use drones to study crop damages

New Delhi: The Centre has decided to use drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) over farmers’ fields to collect crop yield data and to assess damage from natural calamities.

“It will be done so that farmers can get proper and timely compensation for crop damages under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Bima Yojna,” Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.

Singh further said that the Centre would take the help of all new technologies to compensate crop damages due to natural calamities.

“Smart phones will be given to Lekhpal who are responsible to see the crop damages,” he added.

Earleir while laying the foundation stone of Agriculture Technology Application Research Institute, Singh said around 14 crore Soil Health cards would be distributed by March next year.

He further urged the Assam government to utilise the money that has been given by the Centre for soil testing activities.

The new Agriculture Technology Application Research Institute for Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will cover 71 percent people of North East.

The institute will work as the nodal agency of all Krishi Vigyan Kendras for three states. (ANI)