Archive · 1 Dec 2025
Maharashtra Women Farmers Lead Sustainable Agriculture with Drones
In Maharashtra, India, a special program is teaching women farmers how to fly drones.
These drones help farmers spray crops more precisely and check on their plants, which uses fewer chemicals and controls pests better.
The program, called ProRISE, is run by a group called WOTR and supported by Walmart Foundation.
So far, 2,100 women have been trained, and more are expected to join soon.
The drones are bought by groups of farmers, which helps make the program last longer.
The goal is to make farming more sustainable and to give women new job opportunities.
Both WOTR and Walmart Foundation believe this is a great way to help communities become more resilient to climate changes.
2,100 women in rural Maharashtra trained as certified drone pilots for precision agriculture.
Drones used for precision spraying and crop monitoring, reducing chemical use and improving pest control.
WOTR's ProRISE project, supported by Walmart Foundation, aims to advance climate-resilient agriculture.
Farmer-producer organisations (FPOs) purchase drones to ensure long-term sustainability.
Initiative promotes gender equity and plans to expand to other regions in India.
- Who
- Women farmers in rural Maharashtra
- What
- Training as certified drone pilots for precision agriculture
- When
- Ongoing, with expansion planned
- Where
- Jalna and Dharashiv districts in Maharashtra, with plans to expand
- Why
- To advance climate-resilient agriculture and promote gender equity
- Organization
- Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)
- Project
- ProRISE
- Support
- Walmart Foundation
- Women Trained
- 2,100
- Initial Districts
- Jalna and Dharashiv
- Expected Expansion
- 29% more by next month
- Benefits
- Precision spraying, crop monitoring, reduced chemical use, effective pest control