Strategies and programmes have been directed towards replacement of traditional and inefficient implements by improved ones, enabling the farmers to own tractors, power tillers, harvesters and other machines, availability of custom services, support services of human resource development, testing and evaluation and research and development. A large industrial base for manufacturing of the agricultural machines has also been developed. Introduction of technologically advanced equipments through extension and demonstration besides institutional credit has also been taken up. Equipments for resource conservation have also been adopted by the farmers.
Under various Government sponsored schemes like Macro Management of Agriculture, Technology Mission for Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize, Technology Mission on Horticulture and Technology Mission on Cotton, financial assistance is provided to the farmers for the purchase of identified agricultural implements and machines.
- Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institues :Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes (FMTandTIs) have been established at Budni (Madhya Pradesh), Hissar (Haryana), Garladinne (Andhra Pradesh) and at Biswanath Chariali (Assam) having capacity to train 5,000 personnel annually on various aspects of agricultural mechanisation. These institutes also undertake testing and performance evaluation of agricultural machines including tractors in accordance with the national and international standards. Since inception about 93,503 personnel have been trained and about 2,162 machines tested by these Institutes till 31 March 2006. During 2005-06 these Institutes have trained 5734 personnel and tested 112 machines. The training programmes have been revised for giving more emphasis on crop/area/technology specific issues for optimised training duration for their implementation through Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes w.e.f. 1 April 2005.
- Outsourcing of Training: This is a new component approved for the Tenth Plan under the Central Sector Scheme “Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanisation through Training, Testing and Demonstration” in order to train large number of farmers at nearby places. The training programme shall be arranged through the identified institutions by each State namely State Agricultural Universities (SAUs), Agricultural Engineering Colleges/ Polytechnics, etc. This Department has released Rs 73 lakh during the year 2004-05 and Rs 38.03 lakh during the year 2005-06 to various State Governments and ICAR for conducting training programmes at the identified institutions. For the year 2006-07, a target to train 3000 farmers has been kept.
- State Agro Industries Corporation: Seventeen State Agro Industries Corporations, Joint Sector Companies, have been promoted by the Government of India and by the State Governments concerned. The objectives of these Corporations envisage manufacture and distribution of agricultural machines, distribution of agri-inputs, promotion and execution of agro based industries and providing technical services and guidance to the farmers and others. The Government of India’s share in Six State Agro Industries Corporations viz. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have been disinvested in favour of the respective State Governments.
- Legislative Framework: The Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Act, 1983, came into force with effect from 14 December 1983. The Act provides for the regulation of trade and commerce and production, supply and use of products of any industry producing dangerous machines with a view to securing the welfare of persons operating any machine and for payment of compensation for death or bodily injury suffered while operating any such machine. Power threshers used for threshing of the agricultural crops have been brought under the ambit of this Act. The Government of India have notified the Dangerous Machines (Regulation) Rule, 1985 laying down the specifications for the feeding chutes and for installation of the power threshers. Apart from power threshers the inclusion of power operated chaff-cutter and sugarcane crusher under this Act is in process.
- Demonstration of newly developed agricultural/horticultural equipments: With an objective of introducing new technology in agricultural production system, demonstration of newly developed/improved agricultural and horticultural equipments has been approved from the year 1999-2000 which now forms a component of the restructured Central Sector Scheme “Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanisation through Training, Testing and Demonstration”. Under this component, 100 per cent Central grant-in-aid is provided to implementing agencies for procurement and demonstration of new/ improved equipments. The Scheme is implemented through State/Central Government organisations. This component has helped in adoption of new agricultural/horticultural equipments by the farmers. During 2005-06, 8099 demonstrations of different new equipments were conducted benefiting 3, 06,798 farmers. During 2006-07, 1500 such demonstrations will be conducted through the implementing agencies.
- Extension Activities :
Agricultural Extension aims at improving technology dissemination of farm technologies to the farmers. The Extension System has undergone several changes over a period, in terms of content and delivery approaches. Agricultural Extension is a State subject, however, the Ministry of Agriculture supplements States’ efforts in improving extension services.
The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation lays down major policy guidelines on extension matters and the Directorate of Extension implements specific programmes and activities in close collaboration with the State Departments of Agriculture, the State Agricultural Universities and other concerned agencies.
Current efforts in improving extension services include the following:
- Providing innovative and decentralised institutional arrangements in the form of an Agriculture-Technology Management Agency (ATMA) to make extension system farmer driven and farmer accountable
- Encouraging Public Private Partnership (PPP) in various modes/forms can provide synergistic approach in the extension efforts
- Augmentation of Mass Media Support to Agriculture Extension by providing for location-specific broadcasts through 96FM stations of All India Radio, 180 Low Powered/High Powered Transmitters, 18 Regional Kendras of Doordarshan and also on DD National Channel for 30 minutes, 5/6 days a week;
- Operation of Kisan Call Centres through toll free(1551) lines throughout the country to provide expert advise to farmers from 6.00 am to 10.00 pm on all 7 days of the week. The replies to the queries of the farming community are being given in 21 languages
- Providing fee based advisory and other support services to the farmers by training agriculture graduates in agri-business development and establishing agri-clinics
