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How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit among farmers

In Maharashtra, women armed with drones show how technology can reduce labour, lower chemical use, and strengthen farmer producer companies.

4 min readPuneDec 12, 2025 02:13 PM IST

As part of training FPCs, the programme reached out to rural women to become drone pilots. (Express Photo)

Seema Khandade had never seen anybody, especially a woman, operate a drone before. Today, however, she is flying high as one of the farmers who have become drone operators in Maharashtra—and among the few who are using the technology to promote climate-friendly agriculture. “The first time I tried to fly a drone, it went up very easily but did not want to come down,” she says.

Since then, the villager from Jafrabad in Jalna has become one of the contacts for farmers from nearby areas who want their fields sprayed with fertilisers and pesticides. “I go out into the fields on my four-wheeler and start operating the remote control to lift and control the drone. Quite soon, a crowd gathers to watch me because the technology is new, as is seeing a woman handle it,” says Khandade.

The interest has an added benefit. Khandade, who is part of ProRISE—a project by Pune-based Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), which works in watershed management and climate-resilient rural development, uses it to promote biological options from her farmer producer company (FPC).

“FPCs are promoting drones not only as a technology but also as a tool to promote biological options. A drone operator travelling to the field carries the biological and green options in pesticides. Farmers might have bought chemical options, but a drone operator can sway them to using green alternatives,” says Sandeep Jadhav, Director, WOTR.

As part of the programme, the FPCs purchase drones for precision spraying, with crop monitoring set to begin soon.

Reduced labour, lower chemical use

In India’s agricultural belts, from Punjab and Haryana to Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, many women have become drone pilots as part of the central government’s ‘Drone Didi’ scheme. According to the plan, 15,000 drones would be provided to women self-help groups, with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore for the 2023-24 to 2025-26 period.

ProRISE, supported by the Walmart Foundation, a global philanthropic and social impact organisation, aims to take the use of drones in agriculture to the next level. Launched in 2023, the project currently has three drones being operated by three women, each associated with a different FPC. The initiative, rolled out in Jalna, Solapur and Dharashiv districts, has reached 2,100 farmers, with nearly 29 per cent more expected to benefit by next month.

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According to Jadhav, early results show clear advantages of reduced labour and time, lower chemical use, and more effective pest control. For instance, it takes Khandade just around seven minutes for a round of spraying one acre–a task that could take far longer if done manually–and she charges Rs 500 per acre. This income is a revenue source for the FPC, and she gets a share.

“Since we are working with 74 FPCs across four states, we have found that FPCs are largely concerned about businesses and not the ecosystem around them. When farmers use drones for agriculture, they do not distinguish between harmful chemicals and biological options. We wanted FPCs to continue profiting in their business, but without forgetting the ecosystem or the biological aspect of farming. This was our focus when we started working with 11 FPCs as part of the drone programme under ProRISE,” says Jadhav.

Experts from WOTR told FPCs that, in the long run, if they did not look after soil health, it would impact farmers’ productivity. Business will suffer, and FPCs themselves will be affected. Their profit-making is completely dependent on the health of the soil and farming practices, they were informed.

As part of training FPCs, the programme reached out to rural women to become drone pilots. They were trained and certified, while men participated by handling potential challenges such as safety issues in travelling to remote farms, carrying the heavy drone and navigating difficult terrain.

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With the project taking off, women like Khandade are now keeping a firm grip on the controls.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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