The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has signed an agreement with Marut Dronetech Private Limited to launch Drone-as-a-Service (DAAS) operations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 

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One of the key components of this tie-up is the creation of demand for rural entrepreneurs who have already invested in drone technology. This will also encourage rural youth to become drone service providers. 

The duo introduces pay-per-acre concept, saving farmers from heavy costs of owning drones. 

Through this initiative, the two entities are targeting to spray agri inputs over five lakh acres. 

“This collaboration marks a pivotal step towards creating rural entrepreneurs, improving agricultural productivity,” Marut Drones Co-founder and CEO Prem Kumar has said.

Under the agreement, Marut Dronetech will deploy its drone technology to administer a range of agricultural inputs developed by IFFCO agri-products. This initiative aims to optimise crop yields while minimising environmental impact, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.

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Individuals who are keen on acquiring agricultural drones can avail themselves of government subsidies, facilitating their participation in the initiative and enabling them to offer drone services to farmers on a pay-per-acre basis.

“DAAS enables farmers to access drone technology through rural drone entrepreneurs at a per-acre cost, ensuring affordability and accessibility even for small-scale farmers. Drone owners and service providers can enroll with Marut under Drone as a Service (DAAS) to get incentives on spraying services,” he said.