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