MARGAO
The Priest who took mechanized paddy farming to the nook and corner of South Goa is set to introduce another concept aimed at further revolutionizing agriculture in the State -- introducing Agri Drone in agricultural fields.
Come Monday and a drone will hover over the lush green fields at Digaum bandh in Chinchinim village, thanks to an initiative of Don Bosco Aerial Service. Don Bosco and the Chinchinim Agricultural club will launch the Agri Drone and dedicate the same to the farmers of Goa.
Fr George Quadros, Don Bosco, Loutolim has informed that the Agri Drone has got the license to operate in the State of Goa, adding that pilot license has also been obtained from the authorities.
“The Agri Drone will be launched in the State of Goa, perhaps for the first time in agriculture. In the past, an attempt was made to introduce a prototype of a drone. But, a real Agri Drone will be in operation at Chinchinim on Monday”, he said.
He added, “the drone will help the farmers spray fertilizers as well as pesticides to keep the plant from any plant disease. Since we are now moving towards use of solid to liquid fertilizers, the drones will come in handy for the farmers to carry out the aerial spraying of both fertilizers as well as pesticides to protect the plant”.
Purchased from Haryana, a Made in India product, the Agri Drone which can carry a load of up to 10 kilograms, has cost the Priest around Rs 10-odd lakhs. “There’s a central government scheme wherein the government provides 40 per cent subsidy on Agri Drones. We will be levying a fee on the farmers using the drone technology for spraying of liquid fertilizers. We intend to tie-up with the agricultural department as well”, he said.
Fr Quadros is credited with introducing mechanization in agriculture and giving a big boost to community farmers. He is credited with bringing thousands of hectares of fallow land under agricultural cultivation across the length and breadth of the State.
Zonal Agricultural officer, Margao Sheriff Furtado told The Goan that the agricultural department has given the approval for subsidy for Don Bosco to procure the Agri Drone. “The Don Bosco Society has been the pioneers in mechanization of agricultural cultivation in the State. The Society and Fr Quadros has taken mechanization to the nook and corner of Goa. We are happy that the Society has decided to come up with Agri Drone, which will go a long way in giving a further boost to agriculture”, Sheriff added.
