Union Minister inaugurates 35,000 sq ft indigenous drone facility with 300 CoEs, boosting precision farming and rural employment.
Key Highlights of the New Facility
✔ 35,000 sq ft integrated drone manufacturing & testing center
✔ First-of-its-kind indigenous UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) hub
✔ 2,000+ agri-drones displayed at inauguration
✔ 300 new Centers of Excellence (CoEs) launched
✔ DGCA-approved ‘Train the Trainer’ program initiated
Strategic Importance for India’s Agri-Tech Sector
1. Boosting Indigenous Drone Manufacturing
- Local sourcing of 75%+ components via Bharat Drone Association network
- End-to-end R&D for agricultural UAS applications
- Production capacity of 5,000+ drones annually
2. Empowering Rural Economy
- Drone Didi initiative creates women entrepreneur opportunities
- CoEs will train 10,000+ pilots/year across India
- Direct benefit to 500,000+ farmers through precision agriculture
3. Government & Industry Collaboration
- Aligned with MoCA’s Drone Rules 2024
- Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in drone tech
- Partnerships with 50+ local MSME component makers
Technology Showcase
✈️ Kisan Drones for:
- Liquid pesticide spraying (100 acres/day capacity)
- Seed bombing & crop monitoring
- AI-powered soil health analysis
🛠️ Indigenous Systems:
- Made-in-India flight controllers
- Swappable battery systems
- Weather-resistant airframes
Ministerial Endorsement
Kamlesh Paswan, Union MoS Rural Development:
“This facility exemplifies how technology can transform agriculture while creating rural livelihoods. Garuda’s model should be replicated nationwide.”
Market Impact
💰 Projected valuation boost for Garuda to ₹2,500 crore
🌾 30% cost reduction for farmers versus manual spraying
🌍 Export potential to Africa & Southeast Asia
Upcoming Initiatives
📅 Q3 2025: First batch of 500 certified trainers
🛩️ 2026 Target: Deploy 10,000 agri-drones across India
🤝 New JVs with state agriculture departments
