The growing use of agricultural machinery in india, enhancing productivity and sustainability

The use of agricultural machinery in Indian agriculture is steadily increasing, leading to enhanced productivity through timely operations and precise input application. In comparison to industrialized economies, where farm mechanization exceeds 90%, the level of farm mechanization in India is still between 40% and 45%. It is imperative and timely for the Indian farming community to adopt agricultural mechanization to ensure sustainable development.

Increasing Farm Power to 4.0 kW/ha by 2030:

The use of agricultural machinery in India is steadily rising, contributing significantly to increased productivity through timely operations and precise input application. Compared to industrialized economies, where farm mechanization exceeds 90%, India's farm mechanization level is still between 40% and 45%. Adopting mechanization within the Indian farming community is crucial and urgently needed to ensure sustainable development. Several macroeconomic and inherent factors are driving the adoption of mechanized solutions in Indian agriculture. These include a growing population, urbanization, increased agricultural exports such as tractors, improved flow of agricultural credit, and labor migration and shortages. In the current scenario, agricultural mechanization start-ups, particularly those based on the Farming as a Service (FAAS) model, are rapidly integrating technology with a focus on precision agriculture in India. To enhance the efficiency of their equipment and gain a competitive edge, most agricultural equipment manufacturers are now integrating various technologies such as robotics, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and navigation systems. The average farm power availability for the cultivated areas in the country has increased from 0.48 kW/ha (1975-76) to 1.84 kW/ha (2013-14) and 2.49 kW/ha (2018-19). This needs to be increased to 4.0 kW/ha by the end of 2030 to meet the growing demand for food grains.

Focus on Agricultural Mechanization in India:

Given the landholding patterns in India, where approximately 84% of holdings are less than 1 hectare, there is a pressing need for targeted efforts to enhance agricultural production and productivity through mechanization for these farmers. Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) for agricultural machinery, managed by cooperative societies, self-help groups, and private/rural entrepreneurs, represent the optimal solution to ensure accessible farm machinery and boost agricultural productivity, particularly benefiting small and marginal farmers. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has consolidated the elements of agricultural mechanization through various schemes and initiatives aimed at accelerating inclusive growth in agricultural mechanization across India.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Plan:

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the Department of Mechanization and Technology, has developed a comprehensive plan known as the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization.

Custom Hiring Centers: Ensure the availability of agricultural machinery to small and marginal farmers through centers operated by cooperative societies, self-help groups, and private/rural entrepreneurs.
Development of High Capacity and Precision Equipment: Develop and introduce high-capacity, precise, reliable, and energy-efficient equipment to meet the diverse needs of farmers.
Expansion of Outreach: Extend outreach efforts to farmers who have yet to benefit from agricultural mechanization, ensuring widespread adoption of these technologies.
Training and Capacity Building: Implement training programs and capacity-building initiatives for farmers and agricultural workers to enhance their proficiency in utilizing new technologies and machinery.
Financial Assistance: Provide financial support and subsidies for agricultural mechanization equipment to support small and marginal farmers.

Objectives of Agricultural Mechanization: The objective of agricultural mechanization is to encourage the adoption of agricultural machinery and equipment through performance testing and capacity building initiatives for farmers and end-users. Financial support is provided for the establishment of Farm Machinery Banks to procure various agricultural machinery and equipment. It aims to promote ownership of diverse agricultural machinery and establish Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of machinery for crops, facilitating with suitable financial assistance.

Benefits of Agricultural Mechanization for Farmers: Agricultural mechanization offers financial assistance to beneficiaries in states with high potential but low mechanization levels. Beneficiaries renting machinery/equipment from Custom Hiring Centers in mechanized agricultural areas receive financial support on a per-hectare basis. This financial assistance includes a maximum of 75% of the cost for drones, up to ₹7.5 lakh for Farmers' Producer Organizations (FPOs), and up to 50% of the cost, up to ₹5 lakh for individuals including SC, ST, small, marginal, women, and farmers from North-Eastern states for drone procurement. Other individuals can also receive financial support up to 40% of the cost, up to ₹4 lakh for drones.

Crop Residue Management under the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme:
The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) will implement centrally sponsored schemes across Components 1 and 2, fully funded by the Government of India. Centrally sponsored schemes from Components 3 to 8 include administrative and flexible funds, with the Government of India contributing 60% and the states contributing 40%. In the states of the North-East and Himalayan regions, the funding ratio is 90% (central share) and 10% (state share), while Union Territories receive 100% funding from the central government.

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In addition to tractors and power tillers, combined harvesters are also available to farmers under an approved subsidy pattern. Due to the high cost of equipment, support is provided to farmers through Self-Help Groups (SHGs), user groups, and farmers' cooperative societies. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, along with its Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Mechanization and Technology Division, is developing a dedicated plan for crop residue management under this scheme.

Promoting Farmer Awareness through Crop Residue Management:

Financial Assistance for Purchasing Crop Residue Management Machinery: Farmers will receive financial assistance equivalent to 50% of the machinery cost as a subsidy.

Establishment of Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs) for Crop Residue Management Machinery: Project costs for CHCs will be financially supported up to 80% for rural entrepreneurs, farmer cooperative societies, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), registered farmer societies, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and panchayats. The maximum permissible financial assistance for each project should not exceed ₹12.00 lakh.
Establishment of Paddy Straw Supply Chains: Financial assistance will be provided based on project proposals for capital costs of machinery and equipment such as high HP tractors, cutters, tedders, medium to large balers, rakes, loaders, grabbers, and telehandlers. Subsidy funds will be directly transferred to beneficiaries' bank escrow accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) for Crop Residue Management Awareness: Implementation agencies will identify and deploy showcased machinery. An incidental expenditure of ₹6,000 per hectare will also be provided for demonstrating machinery in farmers' fields.

Conclusion: The objective of this scheme is to enhance the productivity and profitability of small and marginal farmers, enabling them to fully leverage the benefits of agricultural mechanization scheme.