The Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria said in Rajya Sabha that the Ministry has identified equipments and machines for small and marginal farmers in order to provide subsidy on them so that the agriculture production is increased.
It is done with an aim to improving utilization efficiency of costlier inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation water, besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation, Minister noted.
The govt also provides subsidy to farmers under different schemes namely Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and others.
The scheme of Sub-Mission was launched last year with the objective of increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers; Promoting ‘Custom Hiring Centres’, Creating hubs for hi-tech & high value farm equipments and creating awareness among farmers through demonstration and capacity building activities.
Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes provides training to the farmers on operation, repair and maintenance of agricultural machines and equipments, reads a PIB release.