Farmers in Madhya Pradesh are enthusiastically embracing the opportunity to become drone pilots, aiming to elevate their agricultural practices to new heights. Around 120 farmers have submitted requests to the Madhya Pradesh government's agriculture engineering directorate, seeking permission to operate drones for crop management.The directorate is currently evaluating the applications to ascertain whether any of the applicants possess a valid drone license from the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA). If a farmer already holds a license, they will be granted immediate authorisation to operate drones.The government's guidelines state that the acquisition of drones and the associated training costs will be subsidised. Certain guidelines for using drones for agricultural purposes are in place, as Pawan Singh Shyam, Joint Director of the Directorate of Agriculture Engineering, explained. He verified the 120 applications, emphasising that aspiring drone pilots should possess both a DGCA drone pilot license and a passport.Shyam revealed that the directorate has partnered with the Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Udan Academy in Amethi, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to provide training to farmers. The training fee, stipulated at Rs 30,000 per farmer, will be partially borne by the government. Shyam further disclosed plans to open a training facility in Jabalpur and to collaborate with Anna University to train farmers.Once farmers obtain their drone licenses, they will be eligible for subsidies to procure drones. Subsidies include 75 percent for farmer producer organisations (FPOs) up to Rs 0.75 million, 50 percent for women and SC/ST farmers up to Rs 0.5 million and 40 percent for other farmers up to Rs 5.4 million.Shyam highlighted the benefits of drone technology in modern farming, emphasising its efficiency in applying fertilisers and pesticides. Drones streamline agricultural practices, saving time and labour, and are especially advantageous for large farms. The government's proactive approach aims to empower farmers with advanced tools to enhance productivity and sustainability.