A separate fund needs to be earmarked for R&D in the field of remote sensing, UAV for crop yield estimation and crop claim management and state technical units to be earmarked funds for the purpose. We expect a subsidy of 50 per cent or 10 lakhs whichever is less for buying drones and their accessories to be used for agri research to both research units and private sector agritech companies. The crop insurance premium needs to be subsidised to Rs 10 for all farmers (farmers share the rest premium to be paid by the central government and state government in the ratio of 70:30) with landholding less than one hectare with compulsory coverage by all banks and FIs. All insured farmlands by banks should be geotagged and Aadhaar linked. The banks are to be paid an additional 2 per cent of the premium over and above 4 per cent being paid by the insurers.
