Salam Kisan join forces with MAIDC, IFFCO, and FMC to boost agriculture with drone tech
The company plans to train 500 drone pilots and create 1000 job opportunities across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh.
Salam Kisan, a leading agri-tech platform, has successfully backed the tender from the Government of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra Agro-Industries Development Corporation (MAIDC) for drone spraying services. This milestone marks a pivotal step in the company’s mission to revolutionise Indian agriculture by introducing drone-as-a-service as a scalable solution for precision farming across the state. The collaboration with IFFCO and FMC further strengthens Salam Kisan’s role in transforming agricultural practices, making advanced farming solutions more accessible and sustainable.
Salam Kisan has won the technical bid for the MAIDC tender, which will see drones deployed in every taluka of Maharashtra. This initiative is part of the Government of Maharashtra’s larger effort to explore the deployment of agricultural drones across the state, helping to increase efficiency in farming practices. As part of this initiative, the government plans to train SC/ST, marginalized women, and rural youth, empowering them to become rural entrepreneurs, known as Drone Didis or Lakhpati Didis. The government will also provide a subsidy of up to Rs 5 lakh for the purchase of drones, making this technology more affordable for farmers.
As part of Salam Kisan’s collaboration with IFFCO, the world’s largest fertiliser cooperative, the company will deploy drones in Maharashtra’s water-scarce regions of Sanagali and Kolhapur to conserve resources and boost productivity. Salam Kisan’s association with FMC, a global leader in agricultural sciences, will focus on precision farming in the Wardha, Amravati, and Yavatmal regions. These larger farming areas will benefit from drones that cover extensive fields quickly and efficiently, improving day-to-day farming operations.
In addition to the technical deployment, Salam Kisan aims to train 500 drone pilots and create 1,000 job opportunities across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The company is setting up a Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO) to provide comprehensive training programs for aspiring drone operators. This effort will not only build the capacity of rural entrepreneurs but will also promote sustainable farming practices across the nation.
Dhanashree Mandhani, Founder and CEO of Salam Kisan, said, “Our collaboration with MAIDC, IFFCO, and FMC represents a transformative shift in Indian agriculture. By integrating drones as a service, we are enhancing crop yields, reducing costs, conserving water, and empowering rural youth and women. Our goal is to create 1,000 job opportunities, train over 500 drone pilots, and help farmers cover over 1 million acres of farmland in our first year. With the support of the government and our industry partners, we are enabling farmers to embrace modern farming solutions and become more resilient in the face of climate change. With this comprehensive initiative, Salam Kisan is well on its way to revolutionizing Indian agriculture through sustainable, technology-driven farming practices. The deployment of drones across Maharashtra, combined with the strategic partnerships with IFFCO and FMC, is poised to create significant impacts in rural communities and strengthen the agricultural ecosystem”.
The company plans to train 500 drone