Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Women Drone Pilots Promote Green Farming in Rural Maharashtra
In rural Maharashtra, women like Seema Khandade are becoming drone pilots to help farmers.
They use drones to spray fields with fertilizers and pesticides, which is faster and uses less chemicals.
This is part of a project called ProRISE, which teaches women to fly drones and encourages farmers to use eco-friendly options.
The drones make farming easier and better for the environment.
The women also earn money by operating the drones, which helps their farmer producer companies.
The project is supported by the Walmart Foundation and has reached many farmers, with more expected to join soon.
Women in rural Maharashtra are trained as drone pilots to promote climate-friendly agriculture.
The ProRISE project, supported by the Walmart Foundation, uses drones for precision spraying and pest control.
Drones reduce labour and time, with one acre sprayed in about seven minutes.
The project encourages farmers to use biological and green alternatives to chemicals.
Women drone pilots earn money by operating drones, benefiting their farmer producer companies.
- Who
- Women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra, part of the ProRISE project by WOTR
- What
- Using drones to promote climate-friendly agriculture and reduce chemical use
- When
- Project launched in 2023, with ongoing activities
- Where
- Jalna, Solapur, and Dharashiv districts in Maharashtra
- Why
- To reduce labour, lower chemical use, and promote biological farming options
- Project Name
- ProRISE
- Organisation
- Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR)
- Project Supporter
- Walmart Foundation
- Number of Drones
- 3
- Number of Farmers Reached
- 2,100
- Expected Additional Farmers
- 29% more by next month
- Spraying Time per Acre
- 7 minutes
- Charge per Acre
- Rs 500