{
  "id": 6689974,
  "title": "Women take the controls as farms embrace new tech in Telangana",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/women-take-the-controls-as-farms-embrace-new-tech-in-telangana",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T02:23:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/women-take-the-controls-as-farms-embrace-new-tech-in-telangana/article71453421.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Telangana’s Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district, a drone hovers over a paddy field, capturing the attention of villagers. At its controls sits 33-year-old farmer Usirika Sandhya, who employs the drone to spray pesticide in a fraction of the time it would take using a hand sprayer. This shift in agricultural practices reflects a larger trend, as women from self-help groups (SHGs) are embracing technology-driven farming services as drone pilots and rural entrepreneurs. Usirika, who has completed Class 10 education, invested in a drone to alleviate her husband Mahesh’s health issues from prolonged pesticide spraying, while also creating a new income stream for herself. Mahesh, who studied at an Industrial Training Institute, cultivates cotton and paddy on around 15 acres, with only two acres owned by the couple. Through financial assistance and training provided by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and partnerships with pharmaceutical major Hetero and MIRAI, 35 women from SHGs across 13 mandals have been trained to utilize modern agricultural technology. Once completed, Usirika is awaiting her Remote Pilot Certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and plans to extend her services to other farmers. The initiative aims to empower these women by providing them with self-employment opportunities while simultaneously offering farmers access to cutting-edge agricultural services.",
  "summary": "Drones are opening a new frontier for women in self-help groups, giving them a chance to enter technology-led agriculture and build independent businesses. From crop-spraying to farm services, the new skills are taking them beyond the traditional activities of SHGs",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}