Patna: Bihar has set a target of 2,85,160 acres for drone-based spraying of crops during the financial year 2026-27 under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, as part of the state’s Fourth Agriculture Road Map.
The scheme, being implemented across all 38 districts, provides subsidised drone spraying of pesticides and liquid fertilisers to eligible farmers. The state has sanctioned ₹11.81 crore for its implementation.
24,789 Acres Already Covered
According to the state Agriculture Department, drone spraying has so far been carried out across 24,789 acres in Bihar. More than ₹10.13 crore in subsidy has been approved for farmers under the scheme.
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Agriculture Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said the initiative is aimed at integrating modern technology with conventional farming practices and enabling spraying over larger areas in less time and with reduced labour.
How Farmers Can Avail the Subsidy
Farmers registered on the Agriculture Department’s Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal are eligible to apply online.
Key provisions include:
- Subsidised drone spraying for up to 15 acres per farmer per season.
- A maximum of two spray applications can be availed of for a crop or season.
- Farmers can apply separately according to their requirements for pest, disease and weed control or liquid nutrient application.
- Applications can be submitted online through the DBT portal.
Integrated Pest Management Given Priority
The scheme covers drone application of different agricultural inputs depending on the crop stage and incidence of pests, diseases or weeds.
These include:
- Insecticides and fungicides
- Herbicides
- Plant growth regulators
- Liquid fertilisers
- Micronutrients
- Bio-pesticides
The Agriculture Department has stated that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) will be prioritised, with chemical pesticides to be used as a last resort. Their application may be undertaken when pests or diseases reach the economic threshold level.
The scheme provides subsidies for spraying bio-pesticides, chemical pesticides, herbicides and liquid nutrients according to prescribed provisions.
₹11.81 Crore Sanctioned Across 38 Districts
The Bihar government has sanctioned ₹11,81,30,440 for the drone-spraying programme in 2026-27.
The Agriculture Department is undertaking implementation across all 38 districts and has urged eligible farmers to register and apply through the DBT portal to access the subsidised service.
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