Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization Scheme
Source : PIB
GS II : Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers
Why in News ?
To empower the farmers through Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme, Government of India has released funds for various activities of Farm Mechanization.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched a Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) in 2014-15.
Agricultural Mechanization plays a vital role in optimizing the use of land, water energy resources, manpower and other inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
Objectives SMAM scheme :
- Increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions & difficult area
Image by Stan Petersen from Pixabay where farm power availability is low.
- To promote Custom Hiring Centres and Hi-tech Hubs of High-Value Machines to offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small and fragmented landholding and high cost of individual ownership
- Creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities.
- Ensuring performance testing and certification of agricultural machines at designated testing centres located all over the country.
Aim and Need SMAM scheme
- To boost up mechanization in the agriculture sector improved agricultural implements and machinery are essential inputs
- For modern agriculture mechanization enhance the productivity of crops besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation.
- Mechanization also helps in improving the utilization efficiency of other inputs.
- To boost the income of farmers and growth of the agricultural economy.
- Agricultural Mechanization is one of the key drivers for the sustainable development of the agriculture sector.
Key Facts
- Under the SMAM scheme from 2014-15 to 2020-21 an amount of Rs. 288.24 crores have been released to Madhya Pradesh for distribution of 2000 agricultural machinery and equipment and establishment of 90 Custom Hiring centres.
- An amount of Rs. 621.23 crore have been released to Andhra Pradesh.
- An amount of Rs. 421.65 crore have been released to Tamilnadu.
- Also amount for other states released based on the requirement.
Custom Hiring Centre for farm machinery
- Custom hiring centres for farm machinery enabled farmers to access implements to take up several climate resilient practices and technologies with other machineries..
- Provides access to small and marginal farmers to costly farm machinery to agricultural operations, greater field coverage over a short period, cost-effectiveness.
- Facilitates timeliness in farm operations and efficient use of inputs and Promotes increase in cropping intensity wherever feasible.
Importance of agriculture in India
- Agriculture plays a vital role in India’s economy
- About 54.6 per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (Census 2011) and it contributed 17.8 per cent to the country’s Gross Value Added for the year 2019-20 (at current prices).
- Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) and Department of
Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) are the two constituent Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
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