One Acre In 5 Minutes! How 'Drone Didi' Rupa Is Earning Up To Rs 60,000 A Month

The Namo Drone Didi scheme has emerged as a transformative initiative for rural women, helping them gain confidence, financial independence, and familiarity with modern technology. Beyond strengthening women economically, the program is also promoting the use of advanced drone technology in agriculture. Women are being trained as drone pilots and provided with drones, enabling them to earn a steady income by offering services such as spraying fertilisers and pesticides. (Local18)

Under this scheme, women receive practical training to operate drones, allowing them to apply modern methods in farming. Using drones to spray fertilisers and pesticides not only saves time and effort but also offers farmers affordable, precise, and efficient agricultural services. (Local18)

Rupa Kumari, from Hemara village in the Khizarsarai block of Gaya district, Bihar, was once an ordinary housewife concerned about her family’s financial struggles. Today, she has become a successful entrepreneur and trained drone pilot, earning recognition as the district’s first Drone Didi. Over the past year, Rupa has sprayed pesticides on more than 500 acres of farmland using drones, earning over Rs 1 lakh. (Local18)

Speaking to Local18, Rupa shared her excitement for flying drones, saying she now feels no less than an airplane pilot. After completing high school, her studies ended, and following village tradition, she married at a young age. Household responsibilities confined her to home and kitchen work, and until three years ago, her family’s financial situation was very difficult. Her husband worked as a labourer, and the entire family relied on his single income. (Local18)

Motivated by financial challenges, Rupa appeared for an exam under the agricultural entrepreneur scheme and obtained a license to operate a fertiliser and seed shop. In 2023, she was selected for the Namo Drone Didi scheme, becoming Gaya district’s first Drone Didi. She received training across Hyderabad, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. For the past year, she has been spraying fertilisers and pesticides with drones in multiple areas of the district, earning Rs 50,000-60,000 per month from her combined work in fertilisers, seeds, and drone services. (Local18)

Rupa charges Rs 300-400 to spray one acre of farmland. With a drone, spraying one acre takes only 5 minutes, compared to 3-4 hours by hand. Using drones, she can cover up to 10 acres in an hour. Currently, it is the wheat and mustard season, and farmers are constantly contacting her for services. Rupa works across different blocks of Gaya and also in neighbouring districts such as Nalanda and Jehanabad. (Local18)