Mechanization and Technology

Mechanization of agriculture is an essential input in modern agriculture. It enhances productivity, besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation. Mechanization also helps in improving utilization efficiency of other inputs , safety and comfort of the agricultural worker , improvements in the quality and value addition of the produce. Efficient machinery helps in increasing production and productivity, besides enabling the farmers to raise a second crop or multi crop making the Indian agriculture attractive and a way of life by becoming commercial instead of subsistence. Increased production will require more use of agricultural inputs and protection of crops from various stresses. At present the farm power availability per ha is 1.84kW/ha (2013-14) which is to increased 4.0 kW/ha by 2022.

This will call for greater engineering inputs which will require developments and introduction of high capacity, precision, reliable and energy efficient equipment. Looking at the pattern of land holding in India, it may be noted that about 84 % of the holdings are below 1 ha. There is a need for special efforts in farm mechanization for these categories of farmers to enhance production and productivity of agriculture. In the existing scenario of land fragmentation and resulting continued shrinkage of average size of operational holdings, percentage of marginal, small and semi-medium operational holdings is likely to increase. Such small holding makes individual ownership of agricultural machinery uneconomic and operationally unviable. ‘Custom Hiring Centers of Agricultural Machineries’ operated by Cooperative Societies, Self Help Groups and private/rural entrepreneur are the best alternative in enabling easy availability of farm machineries to the farmers and bringing about improvement of farm productivity for the benefits of Small & Marginal farmers.

Department of Agriculture & Cooperation has integrated the components of agricultural mechanization under various schemes and programmes aiming at catalyzing an accelerated but inclusive growth of agricultural mechanization in India. The following specific interventions with a special emphasis on ‘reaching the unreached’ will bring small and marginal farmers’ at the core. With this aim Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) has been introduced during 12th plan w.e.f April 2014. Division introduced Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization with following components;

1.Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing and Demonstration: Aims to ensure performance testing of agricultural machinery and equipment, capacity building of farmers and end users and promoting farm mechanization through demonstrations.

Demonstration, Training and Distribution of Post Harvest Technology and Management (PHTM): Aims at popularizing technology for primary processing, value addition, low cost scientific storage/transport and the crop by-product management through demonstrations, capacity building of farmers and end users. Provides financial assistance for establishing PHT units.

Financial Assistance for Procurement of Agriculture Machinery and Equipment: Promotes ownership of various agricultural machinery & equipments as per norms of assistance.

Establish Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring: Provides suitable financial assistance to establish Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring for appropriate locations and crops.

Establish Hi-Tech, High Productive Equipment Hub for Custom Hiring: Provides financial assistance to set up hi-tech machinery hubs for high value crops like sugarcane, cotton etc.

Promotion of Farm Mechanization in Selected Villages: Provides financial assistance to promote appropriate technologies and to set up Farm Machinery Banks in identified villages in low mechanized states.

Financial Assistance for Promotion of Mechanized Operations/hectare Carried out Through Custom Hiring Centers: Provides financial assistance on per hectare basis to the beneficiaries hiring machinery/equipments from custom hiring centers in low mechanized areas.

Promotion of Farm Machinery and Equipment in North-Eastern Region: Extends financial assistance to beneficiaries in high-potential but low mechanized states of north-east. Out of the above mentioned components, 1& 2nd comes under Central Sector (Central share 100%) and remaining (3to 8) under Central Sponsored Scheme (central share 50%: State Share 50 %) Beside above interventions, the Department is promoting Farm Mechanization by making agricultural equipment available among farmers at cheaper rates. A level of 25-50% subsidy on procurement cost is made available under RKVY, NFSM, and NHM & TMOOP scheme for different categories of equipment. The subsidy on tractors and power tillers is available on the models approved by the department under institutional financing. Besides tractors and power tillers, combine harvesters are also available to the farmers as per approved pattern of subsidy. As an individual farmer may not be in a position to purchase high cost equipment on his own, Self Help Group of farmers (SHGs), user groups, cooperative societies of farmers etc are also made eligible for assistance under the programme.

(1). Shri Ashwani Kumar, Joint Secretary(M&T), Telno : 011-23381045, Email : ashwani[dot]hub[at]nic[dot]in
(2). Shri.V.N.Kale, Addional Commisioner(Machinery), Telno : 011-23387200, Email : kalevn2000[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]in
(3). Shri. A.N.Meshram, Deputy Commsioner(M&T), Telno : 011-23382922, Email : anmeshram2000[at]yahoo[dot]co[dot]in
(4). Shri. C.R.Lohi, Deputy Commsioner(M&T), Telno : 011-23382926, Email : cr[dot]lohi[at]nic[dot]in
(5). Shri. P.K.Verma, Assistant Commisioner(M&T), Telno : 011-23386031,Email : pkverma00[at]gmail[dot]com
(6) Shri. P.K.Chopra, Assistant Commsioner(M&T), Telno : 011-23389019, Email : pradeeop[dot]chopra[at]nic[dot]in