Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization

Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization: Relevance

• GS 3: Technology missions

SMAM: Context

• Recently, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has decided to extend financial support to promote drone use in agriculture under Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM).

SMAM: Key points

• The guidelines of “Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization” (SMAM) have been amended which envisages granting upto 100% of the cost of agriculture drone or Rs. 10 lakhs, whichever is less.
• The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) would be eligible to receive grant up to 75% of the cost of agriculture drone for its demonstrations on the farmers’ fields.
• A contingency expenditure of Rs.6000 per hectare would be provided to implementing agencies that do not want to purchase drones but will hire drones for demonstrations from Custom Hiring Centres, Hi-tech Hubs, Drone Manufacturers and Start-Ups.
• The contingent expenditure to implementing agencies that purchase drones for drone demonstrations would be limited to Rs.3000 per hectare.
• In order to provide agricultural services through drone application, 40% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or Rs.4 lakhs, whichever less would be available as financial assistance for drone purchase by existing Custom Hiring Centers.
• Agriculture graduates establishing Custom Hiring Centers would be eligible to receive 50% of the basic cost of drone and its attachments or up to Rs.5 lakhs in grant support for drone purchases.

About SMAM

• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is a submission launched under Krishonnati Yojana in 2014-15.
• The objectives of the scheme is to increase the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers and to the regions & difficult area where farm power availability is low.
• The scheme objective is 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.
• To boost up mechanization in the agriculture sector improved agricultural implements and machinery are essential inputs for modern agriculture that enhance the productivity of crops besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation.
• Mechanization also helps in improving the utilization efficiency of other inputs therefore considered to be one of the most important segments of the agriculture sector to boost the income of farmers and growth of the agricultural economy.

SMAM: Pattern of assistance

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