Indian Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has launched two portals, one for the Computerized Registration of pesticide (CROP) and the other for Plant Quarantine Management System (PQMS). Speaking on the occasion the Minister said, keeping in mind Prime Minister’s vision for the Agriculture sector these two portals have been launched and would help in taking forward digital Agriculture and Ease of doing Business.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Kailash Chaudhary said that the Prime Minister’s emphasis on technology will lead to further development of the Agriculture sector. The new portals will benefit farmers, exporters as well as industrialists.
In line with the vision of the Prime Minister for promoting drone technology and its use in India and to facilitate the use of Kisan drones, as announced in budget document 2022-23; the Department in consultation with all the stakeholders of this sector, has brought out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of drones in pesticide and nutrient application that provide precise instructions for effective and safe operations of drones.
As part of continuing efforts to make drone technologies to reach all farmers, the Ministry has issued orders today granting an interim approval for spray of nearly all the registered pesticides formulations using drones. These pesticide formulations are those whose safety and efficacy has already been evaluated on different crops and are already being used in the country using other methods. The application of pesticides using drones will not only make it easier for farmers to efficiently protect plants from pests, but will also eventually help in increasing their incomes through reduced input costs.
