At the World Economic Forum 2025, a groundbreaking partnership was unveiled that promises to transform India’s agricultural landscape. Salam Kisan, part of the PRYM Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra and tech giant Microsoft, aiming to revolutionize precision agriculture through democratized access to advanced drone technology for smallholder farmers. This initiative comes at a critical time, as India’s agricultural sector grapples with the dual challenges of feeding a burgeoning population of nearly 1.4 billion while contending with climate change, resource scarcity, and inefficiencies in farming practices.
The collaboration, themed “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” focuses on the urgent need for modernizing agricultural practices in India. With projections indicating that one million drones will be essential by 2030, the high costs and limited accessibility of these technologies pose significant barriers, particularly for the 70% of farmers who are smallholders. The partnership’s innovative approach seeks to dismantle these obstacles, paving the way for sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices that can benefit millions.
Central to this initiative is Salam Kisan’s ‘Drone-as-a-Service’ (DaaS) model, which is set to invest INR 300 crore over the next seven years. This investment will not only facilitate the manufacturing of drones but also establish training centers and create a robust network of 200,000 trained Drone Service Providers (DSPs). Each DSP is projected to earn around INR 5 lakh annually, generating rural employment opportunities, particularly for youth, women, and marginalized communities. The Government of Maharashtra will match this investment with an additional INR 300 crore focused on infrastructure and training facilities, particularly in the Marathwada region, which has been identified as a focal point for agricultural development.
The implications of this partnership extend far beyond job creation. The initiative aims to impact five million acres of farmland annually by 2030, significantly boosting farmer profitability and sustainability. With the integration of Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI, machine learning, and cloud computing technologies, farmers will gain access to real-time data insights, predictive analytics, and precision farming recommendations. This technological infusion is expected to enhance crop productivity and resource efficiency, addressing the pressing challenges faced by the sector.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, emphasized the transformative potential of this collaboration, stating that it would not only enhance agricultural productivity but also set a global standard for climate-resilient farming and rural development. The projected outcomes are substantial, with precision spraying and optimized irrigation expected to save an estimated 238 billion liters of water. Additionally, affordable drone services are anticipated to reduce pesticide, fertilizer, and labor costs by 30%, while AI-driven crop advisory services could boost agricultural productivity by as much as 40%.
This partnership aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, underscoring the vital role of public-private collaborations in combating climate change, ensuring food security, and fostering economic growth. By merging innovative technology with traditional farming practices, this initiative is poised to lay the groundwork for a resilient and prosperous future for Indian agriculture, ultimately benefiting millions of farmers and contributing to the nation’s economic development.
