Introduction:

Farm mechanisation refers to the use of machinery and technology in agricultural operations, which is critical for enhancing productivity, reducing dependency on manual labour, and ensuring timely farming practices. In India, where agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, mechanisation is vital for improving efficiency and addressing the challenges faced by the farming community.

Current Scenario of Farm Mechanisation

Overall Mechanisation Level:

• Farm mechanization in India is at 47%, meaning over half of agricultural processes still rely on traditional methods. States like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab have higher mechanization due to better resources, while northeastern states lag due to geographical and economic challenges.

Crop-Specific Mechanisation Insights:

• Wheat: Leading with 69% mechanisation, wheat farming has benefited from technologies like combine harvesters and seed drills. Rice: At 53% mechanisation, rice farming is catching up, especially with the adoption of mechanised transplanting and harvesting.
• Other Crops: Crops like maize (46%), pulses (41%), oilseeds (39%), cotton (36%), and sugarcane (35%) show moderate levels of mechanisation, indicating the need for further investment in appropriate technologies. Sorghum and Millets: These crops, often grown in less fertile regions, are at the lower end with 33% mechanisation.

Key Areas of Mechanisation:

• Seed-Bed Preparation: Over 70% mechanisation for crops like rice and wheat ensures optimal soil conditions for planting.
• Sowing and Planting: Wheat sowing is highly mechanised, but sugarcane and rice still rely heavily on manual labour.
• Weeding and Inter-Culture: Currently mechanised at 32%, this area shows significant scope for improvement.
• Harvesting and Threshing: Despite being a critical phase, mechanisation stands at 34%, with rice and wheat seeing over 60% mechanisation, while crops like cotton lag behind.

Global Comparisons:

• United States: The U.S. leads with 95% mechanisation, driven by advanced technologies, precision agriculture, and large-scale farming.
• Brazil: At 75%, Brazil’s vast agricultural expenses benefit from modern machinery, particularly in soybean and sugarcane cultivation.
• China: With 59.5% mechanization, China’s focus on rice and wheat production, supported by government initiatives, has driven significant progress.

India’s mechanisation levels are behind these countries, highlighting the need for accelerated efforts to catch up. While India’s farm mechanisation industry is valued at approximately ₹9,200 crores (as of 2022), the global industry is around $100 billion. India aims to increase its market share to ₹15,000 crores by 2026.

Factors Influencing Farm Mechanisation in India:

• Socio-Economic Conditions: Diverse economic realities among farmers influence their ability to adopt mechanisation.
• Geographical Factors: The varied terrain, climate, and soil types across India impact the feasibility of mechanisation.
• Crop Diversity: Different crops require specific types of machinery and technology.
• Irrigation Facilities: Access to water is crucial for mechanisation, with rainfed areas needing tailored solutions.

Benefits of Mechanisation:

• Mechanization can cut costs on seeds and fertilizers by 15-20%, improve seed germination by 7-25%, and save 20-30% of farmers’ time. Given that 86% of farmers own less than 2 hectares, there is a need for machinery suited to small holdings.

Challenges to Farm Mechanisation:

• Skills Gap: Many farmers lack awareness and training in using modern technology and managing machinery.
• Small Landholdings: The prevalence of small and marginal farmers makes it economically challenging to own and operate expensive machinery.
• Rainfed Agriculture: Nearly half of India’s arable land is rainfed, requiring mechanisation solutions that are suitable for varying water availability.

Government Initiatives Promoting Mechanisation:

• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM): Launched in 2014-15, this scheme provides financial assistance for purchasing machinery, establishing Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), and setting up Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs). Over ₹4,556.93 crores have been released under SMAM from 2014-15 to 2020-21, leading to the establishment of more than 27,500 CHCs and distribution of over 13 lakh agricultural machines.
• Make in India: The government encourages domestic manufacturing of agricultural machinery by providing research and development support, skill development, and simplified rules for testing.

Future Roadmap to Achieve 75-80% Mechanisation:

• Financial Support and Incentives: Offering targeted subsidies or financial incentives to farmers, particularly small and marginal ones, for purchasing machinery. Encouraging financial institutions to provide affordable credit facilities for acquiring farm equipment.
• Indigenous Solutions and Innovation: Focusing on research and development to create machinery suited to Indian conditions, crops, and farm sizes.Enhancing the ‘Make in India’ initiative to develop cost-effective, durable, and locally relevant farm machinery.
• Infrastructure Development: Improving rural roads and connectivity to ensure the smooth transportation of machinery.Expanding reliable electricity access in rural areas to support electric-powered machinery, and promoting solar-powered solutions to address energy challenges.
• Collaboration with the Private Sector: Partnering with private companies and start-ups focused on mechanisation and precision farming technologies like GPS-guided tractors, drones, and sensor-based systems.Supporting the development of affordable technology tailored to small plots and exploring cooperative models for machinery sharing.
• Policy Reforms: Revising trade policies to prevent the import of low-quality machinery while promoting domestic manufacturing.Providing tax incentives and grants for companies investing in research and development for farm equipment.
• Promotion of Agri-Entrepreneurship: Encouraging youth to enter the agri-mechanisation sector as service providers. Establishing skill development institutes focused on training technicians in the repair and maintenance of farm machinery.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Regularly assessing the impact of mechanisation programs to identify gaps and refine strategies.Using data analytics to track adoption rates, challenges, and successes to inform policy decisions.

Conclusion:

Farm mechanisation in India is more than just replacing manual labour; it’s about transforming the agricultural landscape for greater efficiency, sustainability, and prosperity. As India continues to modernise its agricultural practices, a strategic approach to mechanisation will be key to ensuring food security and enhancing the livelihoods of millions of farmers.