Lok Sabha Question No. 2694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Agricultural Mechanization
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2694

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 14 TH  DECEMBER 2021

## AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

## 2694.SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  agricultural  mechanisation  is  necessary  in  the  country  including  the priorities in this regard;
- (b) whether the Government has made any assessment/survey to know the level of farm mechanization in the country;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the current status of agricultural mechanization in the country in view of the availability of electricity for farming in per unit area;
- (e) whether major States are lagging behind in terms of farm mechanization; and
- (f) the efforts made by the Government to promote farm mechanization in said States?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) to (f):     Agricultural mechanization is an important element of crop production system in the  country  which  helps  in  increasing  agriculture  production  and  productivity,  improving utilization efficiency of costlier inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation water, besides reducing human drudgery associated with various agricultural operations.

The level of agricultural mechanization is expressed as a ratio of available mechanical power to cultivable unit area as kilowatt/hectare (kW/ha). As per the impact and evaluation study of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), the availability of farm power in 2016-17 was 2.02 kW/ha, which has been increased to 2.49 kW/ha in 2018-19. The States such  as  Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Odisha,  Rajasthan,  West  Bengal, Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Kerala,  Maharashtra  and  all  the  North  Eastern  and  Himalayan Sates have the farm power availability less than the National average of 2.49 kW/ha.

For  promotion  of  agricultural  mechanization  in  the  country,  a  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme 'Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization' (SMAM) is being implemented through the State Governments w.e.f. 2014-15, with major the objectives of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions where availability of farm power is low. Under this scheme, besides performance testing of agricultural machinery and equipment, capacity building of farmers & end users and promoting farm mechanization through demonstrations, financial assistance @ 40% to 50% of the cost depending on the categories of  farmers, is  provided for purchase  of  agricultural machines.    Financial assistance  @  40%  of  the  project  cost  is  also  provided  to  rural  youth  &  farmer  as  an entrepreneur,  Cooperative  Societies  of  Farmers,  Registered  Farmers  Societies,  Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres and  Hi-tech  hubs  of  high  value  agricultural  machines.  Financial  assistance  @  80%  of  the project  cost  for  the  projects  costing  upto  Rs.  10  Lakhs  is  provided  to  the  Cooperative Societies, Registered Farmer Societies, FPOs and Panchayats for setting up of village level Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). The rate of financial assistance for the North Eastern States for establishment of FMBs is @95% of the project cost.

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