Lok Sabha Question No. 1537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Challenges faced by Arecanut Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri B Y Raghavendra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1537

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  JULY 2025

## CHALLENGES FACED BY ARECANUT FARMERS

## 1537.  SHRI B Y RAGHAVENDRA:

Will  the  Minister  of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government is aware that Arecanut farmers in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, face serious challenges in harvesting due to labour shortage and expensive equipments such as telescopic poles;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  present  subsidy  under  the  Sub-Mission  on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) 4,000 for general and 5,000 for SC/ST and women farmers for telescopic harvesting poles is well below market rates, limiting affordability;
- (c)  whether the Government proposes to revise and enhance subsidy limits under SMAM to make arecanut harvesting tools more affordable and accessible; and
- (d)  whether the Government is considering models similar to drone support schemes such as assistance  for  procuring  harvesting  tools  through  Farmer  Producer  Organisations  (FPOs), Cooperative Societies, Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Rural Entrepreneurs to promote shared ownership and rental-based services for arecanut harvesting?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): Arecanut farming  involves  several  labor-intensive  activities,  including  harvesting. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization  (SMAM)  through  the  State  Governments  as  one  of  the  Centrally  Sponsored component of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). Under SMAM, financial assistance is provided to the farmers for purchase of various agricultural machines and equipments including the harvesting and post-harvest and processing technologies on individual ownership basis.

As per the revised SMAM guidelines (revised in May 2025), the financial assistance on the telescopic harvesting pole (carbon) up to 80 feet height is provided to the Small and Marginal, Women, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe farmers and the farmers of the North Eastern States @ 50% of the cost limited to Rs. 40,000/- and to other farmers @ 40% of the cost limited to Rs. 32,000/-. The financial assistance on Aluminium Poles as per SMAM Guidelines @ 50% is limited to Rs. 13,000 and @ 40% is limited to Rs. 10,400/-. The financial assistance on the telescopic poles other than above are provided financial assistance @ 50% limited to Rs. 5000 and @ 40% limited to Rs. 4000. This financial assistance to farmers is provided by the State Governments upon verifying the types of harvesting poles under appropriate categories.

Under SMAM on the similar pattern of Namo Drone Didi scheme, financial assistance for establishments of Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs) of the project cost up to Rs. 30 Lakhs per project is  provided  @  80%  of  the  project  cost  to  the  Deendayal  Antyodaya  Yojana  -  National  Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) Cluster Level Federations (CLF) and Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under them, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), Panchayats, Primary  Agricultural Cooperative Societies/ Cooperative Societies of Farmers (Agriculture/ Horticulture/Makhana etc.). The rate of financial assistance for establishing FMBs in the North Eastern States is @ 95% of the project  cost.  These  FMBs  are  established  to  provide  rental  based  crop  specific  mechanization services  to  the  farmers  in  the  region  including  processing,  value  addition  and  crop  by-product management.

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