Lok Sabha Question No. 445 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-26
Subject: Use of Conventional Agricultural Implements
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: J. JAYASINGH THIYAGARAJ NATTERJEE, RAGHAV LAKHANPAL, NEELAM SONKER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.445 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  26 TH  APRIL, 2016

## USE OF CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS

445.   SHRI J.J.T. NATTERJEE: SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL: SHRIMATI NEELAM SONKER:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE ‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããè be pleased to state:

- (a) whether most of the agricultural operations in larger parts of the country are still carried out by manual, simple and conventional agricultural tools and implements;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  low  cost  agricultural  technologies  which  are  suitable  for  small  land holdings have not been developed by the agricultural research institutes in the country and if so, the reasons therefor;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to develop low cost modern agricultural tools, implements  and  machines  to  carry  out  agricultural  operations  such  as  ploughing, sowing, irrigation, thinning, pruning, weeding, harvesting, threshing and transportation of crops in the country and if so, the details thereof and  the steps being taken by the Government in this regard; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  schemes  for  modernization  of agriculture in the country and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/being taken by  the  Government  to  encourage  the  small  and  marginal  farmers  to  adopt  such technologies to reduce the wastage of human labour and improve the yields per acre in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF  STATE IN THE  MINISTRY OF  AGRICULTURE AND  FARMERS  WELFARE

‡ãðŠãäÓã एवं किसान िल्याण ½ãâ¨ããÊã¾ã ½ãñâ Àã·¾ã ½ãâ¨ããè ( SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIYA )

(a) & (b): The degree of farm mechanization is expressed as a ratio of mechanical power to cultivable unit area, which in India has increased from 0.48 kW/ha in 1975-76 to 1.84 kW/ha at present. It indicates that the use of mechanical sources of power such as tractor, power  operated  and  self  propelled  machines  for  various  agricultural operations is increasing.  Some of the agricultural operations requiring low energy input are carried out by conventional manual and animal drawn agricultural tools.

(c) & (d): Research  and  Development  is  an  ongoing  activity.    Central  Institute  of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal & its regional centres are working for development of agricultural  machines  and  equipment  to  cater  to  the  requirement  of  various  crops, commodities, agro-climatic regions and socio economic conditions of farmers.

(e): To  encourage  small  and  marginal  farmers  to  adopt  improved  agricultural machines  and  equipments,  Sub-Mission  on  Agricultural  Mechanization  has  been launched  w.e.f.  2014-15,  with  the  objectives  of  Promoting  'Custom  Hiring  Centres'; Creating hubs for hi-tech & high value farm equipments; providing financial assistance for purchase of agricultural machines and creating awareness among farmers through demonstration & capacity building activities.

Farm Mechanization is also promoted through other schemes viz. National Food Security Mission, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna  and National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm.

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