Raipur, October 2026: Savitri Sahu, a resident of Khapriteli village in Chhattisgarh’s Khairagarh district, has transformed her livelihood by embracing modern agricultural technology under the Namo Drone Didi initiative. A member of the Jai Bhawani Self-Help Group, she has provided drone-based spraying services across approximately 2,100 acres of farmland in 40 villages, earning more than Rs 6.30 lakh so far.
Her journey is being highlighted under the state’s Seva Sankalp campaign, which seeks to promote rural livelihoods, women’s empowerment and self-reliance. Associated with a self-help group under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (Bihan), Savitri has turned drone technology into a new source of income while helping farmers access modern agricultural services.
Self-help group opens new opportunities
Savitri has been associated with a self-help group under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, known as NRLM Bihan, since 2018. Her association with the group helped her explore new livelihood opportunities and take steps towards financial independence.
To begin working as a Namo Drone Didi, she received a loan of Rs 5 lakh, which helped her establish and expand the activity. The financial assistance enabled her to enter a field that combines technology with agricultural services, opening up an alternative source of income in her village.
15-day training in drone operations
Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, Savitri underwent a 15-day drone pilot training programme facilitated by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
After completing the training, she was provided with a drone sprayer machine and an electric vehicle to support her work. She now uses the equipment to spray nano urea, nano DAP and necessary pesticides on farmers’ fields.
The training and equipment have enabled her to provide specialised agricultural services that would otherwise require considerable manual effort. Her experience also demonstrates how access to technical training and modern equipment can help rural women explore emerging employment opportunities.
Spraying services across 40 villages
Savitri has so far covered approximately 2,100 acres of farmland across nearly 40 villages using drone technology. She charges Rs 300 per acre for the spraying service and has earned more than Rs 6.30 lakh through the activity.
Her work provides farmers with a convenient way to spray liquid fertilisers and pesticides over their crops. Drone-based spraying can cover agricultural fields in less time than many conventional methods, helping reduce the labour and time required for the operation.
For Savitri, the initiative has become a source of financial independence and an opportunity to expand her services across villages. For farmers, it offers access to modern equipment and encourages the adoption of technology in agricultural operations.
Modern technology benefits farmers
Drone sprayers can be used to apply liquid fertilisers and pesticides across fields in a convenient and efficient manner. The technology can help reduce the time and physical effort involved in spraying, particularly when treating larger agricultural areas.
However, the use of fertilisers and pesticides must follow agricultural experts’ recommendations and prescribed application rates. Appropriate handling and application practices remain important to ensure that the technology is used safely and effectively.
Through Savitri’s services, farmers in the surrounding region are gaining greater exposure to technology-driven agricultural practices. Her work is also helping build awareness of the potential role of drones in improving the efficiency of farm operations.
The initiative illustrates how technological innovation can create opportunities not only for farmers but also for rural entrepreneurs who provide agricultural services.
Shares her experience on All India Radio
Savitri’s achievements have also received recognition at the state level. On November 13, 2025, she shared her experiences as a Namo Drone Didi on All India Radio’s Didi Ke Goth programme.
During the broadcast, she spoke about the training she received under the scheme and explained how she used the drone sprayer machine and electric vehicle to provide services to farmers.
Her participation helped bring attention to the opportunities available to rural women through self-help groups, financial assistance and technology-based livelihood initiatives.
An inspiring example of rural women’s empowerment
Savitri Sahu’s journey highlights how rural women can develop sustainable livelihood opportunities when financial support, skill development and modern equipment come together.
From joining a self-help group in 2018 to operating a drone-based agricultural service, she has expanded her economic opportunities while providing farmers with access to modern technology. Her earnings of more than Rs 6.30 lakh and work across 2,100 acres in 40 villages underline the scale of the activity she has undertaken.
The Seva Sankalp campaign seeks to showcase such examples to encourage rural livelihoods, strengthen women’s empowerment and promote technological innovation in agriculture.
Savitri’s experience demonstrates how women’s self-help groups can serve as platforms for entrepreneurship and skill development. It also highlights the potential of initiatives such as Namo Drone Didi to connect rural women with emerging technologies and enable them to become self-reliant while contributing to the modernisation of agriculture.
