Bihar Government to Fund Half the Cost of Drone Spraying for Khagaria's Farmers This Season Farmers in Bihar's Khagaria district will get a 50 percent subsidy on drone-based pesticide and liquid fertiliser spraying for the 2026-27 financial year, with a target of 3675 acres set under the scheme. Farmers in Bihar's Khagaria district will no longer have to depend entirely on manual labour to spray pesticides and fertilisers on their fields, thanks to a new drone spraying scheme rolled out by the state's agriculture department for the 2026-27 financial year. Under this scheme, the government will bear half the cost of spraying crops with pesticides and liquid fertilisers using agricultural drones. The initiative falls under the fourth agriculture roadmap of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and its stated goal is to protect more farmland in less time and at lower cost, cut labour expenses and raise farmers' income. Over Rs 11 crore approved for the state A total of Rs 11 crore 21 lakh 30 thousand 400 has been sanctioned for this scheme across Bihar. Of that, Khagaria district has been allotted Rs 15 lakh 3 thousand 75 to run the programme locally. The scheme will be implemented in all seven blocks of the district, and a target of 3675 acres has been set for spraying coverage in the 2026-27 financial year. The thinking behind it is straightforward, drone technology should reduce the physical toil and labour cost that farmers currently bear, while helping push up their earnings. 50 percent subsidy on the drone spraying itself Reema Kumari, director of the Khagaria district Plant Protection Division, said farmers will get a 50 percent subsidy on drone spraying of pesticides and liquid fertilisers under the scheme. The cost of spraying one acre by drone has been fixed at Rs 419, of which the government will subsidise up to Rs 209 per acre, leaving farmers to pay only the remaining amount out of pocket. There is a cap on how often this benefit can be used though, a farmer can claim the drone spraying subsidy a maximum of two times on the same crop. Subsidy on buying pesticides and fertilisers too What sets this scheme apart is that the subsidy is not limited to the drone service alone. Farmers will also get a 50 percent subsidy on buying chemical pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, nano urea, nano DAP, NPK and other micronutrient-based liquid fertilisers. This subsidy is capped at Rs 200 per acre, per chemical and per spraying round. Rather than being credited to the farmer's account, the subsidy amount will be paid directly to the authorised pesticide seller or service provider, which is meant to keep the process transparent. Registration first, benefit later According to Reema Kumari, only farmers who are registered on the agriculture department's DBT portal will be eligible for the scheme. A single farmer can claim the subsidy on a maximum of 15 acres of land, and the drone spraying subsidy is limited to two rounds per crop. Crucially, the benefit will be given on a first come, first served basis, so farmers who register and apply early stand a better chance of getting the subsidy before the allotted funds run out. Officials have advised farmers to complete their registration well in time. Why the department is betting on drones The agriculture department believes drone technology will make it possible to spray pesticides and liquid fertilisers evenly across large tracts of land in far less time than manual methods allow. This, officials say, will help control pests, disease and weeds more effectively, cut down on the wastage of chemicals, bring down labour costs and eventually boost crop yields. The department has described the scheme as an important step towards raising farmers' income and making agriculture a more profitable occupation through wider adoption of modern technology. Farmers seeking more details about the scheme have been advised to contact their block agriculture office. What this means for you • Across India: This kind of subsidy for drone-based spraying signals a push towards cutting labour costs and boosting yields for farmers, a model that could be extended to other districts. • In Khagaria: Farmers across the district's seven blocks can register on the DBT portal to claim up to Rs 209 per acre on drone spraying and a 50 percent subsidy on pesticide and fertiliser purchases within the 3675-acre target, but only if they apply early since the benefit runs on a first come, first served basis. Questions & Answers 1. How much subsidy will Khagaria farmers get under the drone spraying scheme? Farmers will get a 50 percent subsidy on drone spraying of pesticides and liquid fertilisers, with the government paying up to Rs 209 per acre. 2. How many times can a farmer claim the drone spraying subsidy on one crop? A farmer can claim the drone spraying subsidy a maximum of two times on the same crop. 3. Which farmers are eligible for the scheme? Only farmers registered on the agriculture department's DBT portal are eligible for the scheme. 4. What is the budget allotted for the scheme in Khagaria district? Rs 15 lakh 3 thousand 75 has been allotted to run the scheme in Khagaria district. 5. What is Khagaria's target under the scheme for 2026-27? A target of 3675 acres of spraying coverage has been set across the district's seven blocks for the 2026-27 financial year. 6. What is the maximum land a farmer can claim the subsidy on? A single farmer can claim the subsidy on a maximum of 15 acres of land. 7. Is there a subsidy on buying pesticides and fertilisers too? Yes, farmers get a 50 percent subsidy on buying pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, nano urea, nano DAP, NPK and other liquid fertilisers, capped at Rs 200 per acre, per chemical and per spraying round. 8. Where can farmers get more information about the scheme? Farmers can contact their block agriculture office for more details. https://trendkia.com/en/benefits/khagaria-men-kisanon-ko-drona-se-chhirakava-para-adhi-lagata-degi-sarakara-3675-ekara-ka-rakha-lakshya-7958 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.