Agricultural Drone and Farm Machinery Subsidy in Maharashtra: MahaDBT Application, Eligibility, and Custom Hiring Centers

Agricultural labor shortages and rising wage costs in rural Maharashtra have made farm mechanization a fundamental necessity rather than a luxury. At the same time, tall crops like cotton and pigeonpea (tur) are notoriously difficult to spray manually during peak pest outbreaks, exposing spray operators to chemical poisoning risks.

To modernize agricultural operations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Maharashtra State Agriculture Department offer substantial subsidies through the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM / कृषी यांत्रिकीकरण उपअभियान) and the Kisan Drone Promotion Scheme via the MahaDBT portal.

Here is an exhaustive breakdown of eligible farm machinery, drone subsidy parameters, and the exact application procedure.

Farm Mechanization Subsidy Slab Structure in Maharashtra

1. Agricultural Drone (Kisan Drone) Guidelines & Legal Prerequisites

Using a drone for aerial agrochemical spraying requires compliance with Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) civil aviation rules:

• •DGCA Type-Certified Drone: Subsidies are ONLY granted for drone models holding an active Type Certificate issued by the DGCA (models by approved Indian manufacturers like IoTechWorld, Garuda Aerospace, Marut Drones, etc.).
• •Remote Pilot Certificate (RPC): The drone operator must hold a valid Remote Pilot Certificate obtained from a DGCA-authorized Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO).
• •Water & Chemical Efficiency: A Kisan Drone sprays 1 acre in just 7 to 10 minutes using only 10 liters of water (ultra-low volume spray), compared to 150–200 liters required by manual knapsack sprayers.

2. Steps to Apply for Farm Machinery on MahaDBT

1. 1.Visit Portal: Go to mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in and log in with your Aadhaar credentials.
2. 2.Select Component: Choose "Agricultural Mechanization" (कृषी यांत्रिकीकरण).
3. 3.Choose Implement Type: Select from the categorized dropdown (Tractor, Power Tiller, Sowing Equipment, Plant Protection, Harvesting Equipment).
4. 4.Enter Land & Tractor Details: If applying for tractor-drawn implements (like rotavators or reversible ploughs), input your tractor RC book registration number.
5. 5.Upload Documents: Upload 7/12 extract, 8-A, Caste Certificate (if claiming 50% SC/ST quota), Quotation, and Aadhaar-linked Bank Passbook.
6. 6.Submit Application: Pay the standard lottery fee of ₹23.60.

3. Custom Hiring Centers (CHC - कृषी अवजार बँक) for FPOs and Youth

Small and marginal farmers who cannot afford individual ownership of expensive tractors and harvesters can access them through village Custom Hiring Centers:

• •Financial Grant: Under SMAM, rural youth or registered FPOs can establish an Agricultural Machinery Bank with a project cost of ₹10 Lakhs, receiving a direct capital subsidy of 40% (₹4 Lakhs) from the government.
• •Machinery Included: A typical CHC includes a 45 HP Tractor, Hydraulic Reversible MB Plough, Rotavator, Zero Till Seed Drill, Multi-Crop Thresher, and Sprayers.
• •Village Service Model: Implements are rented to local village farmers on an hourly or per-acre rate, ensuring low-cost mechanization while generating sustainable revenue for the center.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I buy a rotavator from any local fabricator and claim the MahaDBT subsidy? A1: No. Subsidies are only disbursed for implements manufactured by empaneled firms tested and approved by central testing institutes (like FMTTI) with valid test reports uploaded to the government portal.

Q2: Is a pilot license mandatory to buy a subsidized drone? A2: Yes. The applicant (or an authorized employee/family member) must complete mandatory DGCA training and hold an RPC before the final subsidy release.

Q3: How much water does an agricultural drone save in cotton spraying? A3: Traditional manual spraying uses 150 to 200 liters of water per acre. A drone achieves uniform micro-droplet coverage with just 8 to 10 liters of water per acre, saving over 90% water.

Sources and Authoritative References - Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM): agrimachinery.nic.in - MahaDBT Portal — Government of Maharashtra: mahadbt.maharashtra.gov.in - Directorate of Agricultural Engineering, Pune: krishi.maharashtra.gov.in - Last Updated: September 2026