In a bid to conduct India’s largest farmer outreach program, Garuda Aerospace, India’s leading drone manufacturer announced that it has successfully crossed the halfway mark for the Drone Yatra 2.0. The Drone Yatra 2.0 is specifically designed to demonstrate the efficacy of drones for various agricultural uses and promote their benefits to farmers across the country.
Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Garuda Aerospace said “Garuda Kisan drones are the most affordable in the market priced at Rs. 0.45 million each, we have already received booking orders for 6,000 drones indicating the monumental success of the Drone Yatra. A surge in demand is due to Garuda Kisan Drones being priced nearly 50 per cent less than most other Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved drone manufacturers and Garuda Kisan drones are eligible for both loans at a 5-6 per cent interest rate under Agri Infrastructure Fund Scheme and 50-70 per cent government subsidy under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation scheme where farmers, Rural Entrepreneurs, Custom Hiring Centers and Farmer Producer Organisations are spending only 25-50 per cent for each drone from their pockets.”
The Drone Yatra 2.0 has covered a total of 388 districts and a distance of 192,309 kilometres in various states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Punjab, West Bengal, and Bihar etc. Garuda Aerospace has already signed on 357 dealerships, and a total of 6,398 drones have been distributed through 292 purchase orders. Garuda Warriors conducted demo sessions on the ground during the Drone Yatra 2.0, helping farmers incorporate drone technology and educating them for a brighter future.
The Garuda Drone Yatra was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on February 19, 2022, and has received an overwhelming response from customers across India. On December 6, 2022, Union Minister Anurag Thakur flagged off the Drone Yatra 2.0, the largest project ever marking another significant milestone for the project. The initiative aimed to educate and familiarise farmers with the benefits of drones across all districts in India.
“We’re halfway through our Drone Yatra 2.0, and it’s been an incredible experience meeting our farmers and enthusiastic youth. Our biggest goal with this initiative was to create maximum impact and gain the trust of farmers by conducting demo sessions on-ground by making them familiar with the technology. This is one of the biggest farmer contact programs in the country. We’re proud of our Garuda warriors for completing the demonstrations of our Kisan Agri Drones, showing the power of becoming a drone pilot. We will continue to innovate and deliver high-quality drone technology solutions to meet the evolving needs of our customers.” concluded Agnishwar Jayaprakash.
“Recently, Garuda Aerospace became the first-ever Made in India drone startup to receive the Dual DGCA certifications of both Type Certificate for manufacturing and Remote Pilot Training organisation for training drone pilots free of cost. Garuda Aerospace is well established in the market.” said an industry expert.
Garuda Aerospace has received recognition from several government agencies and has been appreciated for its efforts in promoting the use of drones in various industries. The Garuda Drone Yatra is a highly ambitious project that aims to revolutionise the drone industry in India. Garuda Aerospace is the first company to receive a drone loan and subsidy, a remarkable achievement that is testimony to the company’s vision and commitment to innovation. The company also raised USD 22 million, the largest ever Series A funding in the drone sector and backed by former cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.