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Saturday / April 19. 2025

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HomePosts Tagged "Akshay Khobragade"
Agribusiness, Drones, India, Start ups

The partnership is focused on training and certifying professional drone pilots, creating employment opportunities and empowering rural communities.

Salam Kisan, a pioneering platform driving measurable transformation, has entered into a strategic partnership with SVERI College of Engineering, Pandharpur, Solapur, to establish a Joint Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) at SVERI’s state-of-the-art campus. This collaboration represents a milestone in bridging the gap between industry and academia, aiming to create a skilled workforce and foster innovation in the rapidly expanding drone sector.

As India rapidly adopts drone technology across sectors such as agriculture, logistics, and infrastructure, the demand for skilled drone pilots is witnessing significant growth. Industry estimates suggest that India will need over 1 lakh professional drone pilots by 2027. The partnership between Salam Kisan and SVERI is set to address this demand by providing comprehensive training and certification programs for drone pilots. The focus is also on creating employment opportunities for rural youth. The initiative is rooted in the shared vision of socio-economic development through technological empowerment, paving the way for significant growth and transformation in underserved communities.

The formal signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was conducted by Akshay Khobragade, COO of Salam Kisan, and Dr. B. P. Ronge, Principal of SVERI College of Engineering. The event was graced by dignitaries, including Dr. Prashant Pawar, Vice Principal of SVERI, and Ramchandra Mashale, Founder and Director of MSR IAS Academy.

Speaking on the partnership, Akshay Khobragade, Chief Operating Officer of Salam Kisan, said, “This initiative is a significant step forward in building a resilient drone ecosystem in India. Through our partnership with SVERI, we aim to provide rural youth with the skills and opportunities necessary to thrive in this high-growth sector. Together, we are committed to shaping a future where technology drives employment and innovation.”

The collaboration is strategically designed to equip individuals with industry-relevant skills while creating opportunities for sustainable growth. With its focus on fostering employment and technological advancement, the RPTO is set to contribute meaningfully to the development of a modern workforce that can drive India’s leadership in the global drone industry.

Dhanashree Mandhani, Founder and CEO Salam Kisan, remarked, “Our collaboration with SVERI to establish the Joint Remote Pilot Training Organization is a significant stride towards empowering rural youth with advanced skills. With DGCA issuing remote pilot certificates to over 21,000 drone pilots as of December 2024 and industry projections indicating a need for over 100,000 professional drone pilots by 2027, the demand for skilled operators is evident. By focusing on drone technology, we aim to create employment opportunities and foster innovation in agriculture and beyond. This initiative aligns with our broader vision of leveraging technology to drive socio-economic development in underserved communities, as demonstrated by our recent partnership with the Maharashtra government to boost drone manufacturing and training.”

The partnership is focused on training and

Agrotech, Company News, India, Start ups

FPOs will receive an assured incentive on each spraying order (acreage wise) while reducing input costs for farmers, improving operational efficiency, and conserving valuable resources.

With an aim to equip farmers with effective tech-enabled solutions, Salam Kisan, India’s fast-growing data-driven end to end agriculture platform that helps increase productivity and profitability for farmers, introduces a first-of-its-kind drone-based spraying service through FPOs on a rental basis for farmers in the Chandrapur district, Maharashtra. This groundbreaking initiative was unveiled by Sudhir Munagantiwar, Cabinet Minister of Finance & Planning, Forests, Government of Maharashtra during the Wild Vegetable Festival 2023 on Independence Day, and he hoisted the national flag using a drone provided by the company. With this initiative, Salam Kisan aims to equip farmers with cutting-edge technology that not only enhances their agricultural practices and promotes sustainable resource usage but also contributes to their economic well-being.

Under this initiative, Salam Kisan has collaborated with Farmers’ Producer Organizations (FPOs) to make drone spraying services easily accessible and affordable to a broader spectrum of farmers. By making drones an efficient and doorstep solution, the company intends to equip farmers with cutting-edge spraying capabilities for seamless pest management and precise use of agrochemicals. It also reduces water wastage by 85-90 per cent and product usage by 20-30 per cent, making strides toward sustainable agriculture.

At the same time, FPOs will receive an assured incentive on each spraying order (acreage wise). While reducing input costs for farmers, improving operational efficiency, and conserving valuable resources, this strategic initiative intends to provide FPOs with financial benefits and upliftment.

The event witnessed the presence of key dignitaries who have significantly contributed to India’s agricultural progress. Accompanying them were Salam Kisan’s special guides, including Akshay Khobragade, COO; Paresh Kullarkar, Agri-Operational Manager, and the pioneering drone pilots Raj Sidam and Amol Kohare.

Dhanashree Mandhani, Founder & CEO, Salam Kisan, said, “At Salam Kisan, we’re committed to empowering rural communities toward resilience and sustainability, and collaborations between public and private entities will be pivotal in implementing change at the grass-roots level.  Our national agriculture policy aims to set up 10,000 new FPOs by 2025 with a focus on revamping agriculture value chains and catalysing the growth of logistics in rural areas.”

“Usually, traditional pump spraying uses 100 – 120 liters of water per acre, and drone spraying uses 10 liters per acre. Traditional spraying is time-consuming and requires manual labor, while drone spraying takes 7 minutes. By making drone service accessible to farmers, we are helping reduce input costs, increase efficiency, and ensure farmers’ safety. At the core, we intend to benefit farmers, our agricultural ecosystem, and FPOs.”  stated Akshay Khobragade, COO, Salam Kisan. 

FPOs will receive an assured incentive on