U. Sandhya, a farmer and member of a self-help group, flies an agriculture drone over her fields in Motakondur village of Yadadri Bhuvanangiri district. She is among 35 women from SHGs across 13 mandals who are trained to take up tech-based livelihood opportunities
| Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal
The drone hums over a paddy field in Motakondur village in Telangana’s Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, drawing the attention of scores of villagers. At the controls is 33-year-old farmer Usirika Sandhya, who covers the crop with pesticide in a matter of minutes, a task that would otherwise require hours of back-breaking work with a hand sprayer.
For Sandhya, however, the drone is about more than making farm work quicker. It is an attempt to spare her husband, Mahesh, the health problems he faces after long hours of pesticide spraying, while also opening up a new livelihood opportunity for her.
Published – September 11, 2026 07:52 am IST
