Anumala Sudhakar (35), a smallholder farmer from Kangal village in Nalgonda district, Telangana, owns 3.5 acres of agricultural land. A graduate by education, he embraced farming as his primary livelihood, cultivating paddy to support his family. Like many small farmers, Sudhakar faced challenges in crop protection, relying on manual spraying methods that were time-consuming, labour-intensive, and exposed him to harmful chemicals.
To address such challenges, Cornell Sathguru Foundation for Development (CSFD), in collaboration with NABARD, initiated the project “Improving Employment and Livelihoods through Agriculture Drones” in Telangana. The initiative focuses on building the capacities of rural youth through DGCA-certified drone pilot training and enabling them to become agri-entrepreneurs.
In April 2024, Sudhakar enrolled in the drone pilot training organised at the NIPHM RPTO Centre, Hyderabad. With ongoing mentorship from CSFD, he secured a loan through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and purchased an agricultural drone at a subsidised interest rate of 6%.
Today, Sudhakar is a DGCA-certified drone pilot and a successful agri-entrepreneur. Over the past two years, he has covered approximately 7,200 acres across 500 farmers in his village and neighbouring areas. Charging Rs. 450 per acre, he has generated a total income of Rs. 32.4 lakhs, with a profit of Rs. 14.4 lakhs.
The adoption of drone technology has significantly improved farming practices in the region, reducing chemical usage and wastage by 25%, lowering labour costs by 20%, and decreasing spraying time from 4 hours to just 1 hour. It has also minimised farmers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals, improving their health and safety.
Building on his success, Sudhakar has established an agri-input centre in his village, further supporting the farming community.
Reflecting on his journey, Sudhakar shares, “This training transformed me from a farmer into an entrepreneur, enabling me to build a sustainable livelihood while supporting other farmers.”
