Lok Sabha Question No. 2402 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Anurag Sharma

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2402

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 10 TH  DECEMBER 2024

## SUB-MISSION ON AGRICULTURE MECHANIZATION

## 2402.  SHRI ANURAG SHARMA:

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

- (a) the manner in which the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) cater  to  the  diverse  mechanization  needs  of  small,  marginal  and  large  farmers across various agricultural zones in the country, including Uttar Pradesh;
- (b) the  details  of  financial  assistance  or  subsidies  are  provided  under  the scheme, and how do they specifically benefit small and marginal farmers;
- (c) whether the SMAM address the challenge of labour shortages in agriculture and what measures are in place to reduce farmers' dependency on manual labour;
- (d) the  details  of  examples  of  innovative  agricultural  machinery  introduced under  SMAM  and  the  way  in  which  these  innovations  helped  in  improving productivity,  reducing  input  costs,  or  addressing  environmental  challenges  like stubble burning; and
- (e) the role of SMAM in promoting sustainable and efficient farming practices and its impact on farmers' livelihoods in labour-scarce regions?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization' (SMAM) is implemented in all the States  including the State of Uttar Pradesh with the specific objectives of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers  and to the regions  where  availability  of  farm power is low  and promoting  'Custom Hiring Centers' to offset  the adverse  economies of scale arising due to small land holding & high cost of individual ownership of agricultural machines.

Under SMAM, financial assistance @ 40% to 50% of the cost of machines 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 entrepreneur, (Rural youth and farmer as an entrepreneur), Cooperative Societies of Farmers, Registered Farmers Societies, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Panchayats for establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) and Hi-tech hubs of high value agricultural machines. Financial assistance @ 80% of the project cost  for  the  projects  costing  up  to  Rs.  30  lakhs  is  provided  to  the  Cooperative Societies of farmers, Registered Farmer Societies, FPOs, Self Help Groups and Panchayats for setting up of village level Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs).

Mechanization  involve  using  machinery  and  technology  to  perform  tasks traditionally done by hand. Important areas of crop production system includes land preparation, planting, irrigation, harvesting and post-harvest operations, which are performed by appropriate machines with increased efficiency thereby reducing the labour  requirement  involved  for  these  operations.    The  CHCs  promoted  under SMAM cater to the requirements of small and marginal farmers by providing the machines and equipment on rental basis for different agricultural operations as per their  requirement.      Technologies  such  as  drones,  sensors  enable  farmers  to monitor crop health, manage soil conditions and apply inputs more effectively which helps in reducing input costs and improving productivity. Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) machines  helps  the  farmers  in  sowing  paddy  directly  in  the  field  and  no transplanting is required. Use of mechanized implements like Happy Seeder, Super Seeder and Smart Seeder, which can sow wheat directly into just-harvested rice fields without burning or removing straw from the fields, helps in preventing stubble burning.

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