(a) Human Resources
Development in Farm Mechanization:
Developing human resources and
generation of self-employment by way of providing skill-oriented
training in the agricultural sector is important aspect. Keeping this
in view, Farm Machinery Training and Testing Institutes (FMTTIs) have
been established at Budni (M.P.) in 1955, Hissar (Haryana) in 1963,
Garladinne, District Anantapur in 1983 and Biswanath Chariali (Assam) in
1990. These Institutes have since then engaged in developing human
resource for agricultural mechanization. The FMTTIs have been
conducting different types of training programmes in the selection,
operation, repair/maintenance and management of farm machinery for the
benefit of nominees of Central/State Governments, Private Organization,
retired/retiring Defence Personnel, technician, rural youth, farmers and
engineering graduates. Trainees admitted under User Level Courses
at these institutes are paid stipend @ Rs. 1200/- per month per trainee
to cover boarding expenses for a month and to defray to and fro travel
expenditure, on actual basis by ordinary mode of transport.
To supplement efforts of FMTTIs in
human resource development and to train large number of farmers at
nearby places with a view to develop and improve upon technical know-how
of users of agricultural implements and machines for its proper and
effective utilization, Outsourcing of training is being done through
institutions identified by State Governments such as SAUs, Agricultural
Engineering Colleges, ICAR institutions, Polytechnics, etc. Financial
assistance @ Rs.5200/- per farmer per month is provided to institutions
identified for training which includes stipend of Rs. 1200/- per farmer
per month of training, actual to and fro travel expenses by ordinary
mode of transport in ordinary class, upto maximum of Rs. 300/- per
farmer, boarding and Lodging Charges @ Rs. 1200/- per farmer per month
and Institutional charges (including stationary, training material,
honorarium) @ Rs. 2500/- per farmer per month.
(b)
Quality Control of Agricultural Machines and Implements:
Improved
and quality agricultural implements and machines play a pivotal role in
sustainable development of agriculture and enhancement of crop
productivity. Therefore, identification of quality and need based
agricultural machines/equipment are of paramount importance. Quality is
also a critical factor in accessing competitive new markets for the
manufacturers. The FMTTIs have been engaged in testing of agricultural
machines and implements with the objectives of assessing suitability of
machines to Indian conditions, educating clientele on comparative
performance of various machines, providing data and material to
extension workers for guiding farmers, helping financial institutions in
more effectively financing their schemes of assistance for procurement
of machinery. The institutes also assist in grant of BIS Certification,
contribute to export promotion through assessing conformity of product
to ISO/OECD specifications and carry out Batch Testing programme to help
manufacturers in product improvement thereby providing better equipment
to farmers.
The Budni
institute is the only National Designated Authority in the country to
test tractors as per the OECD Standards. The Budni and Hissar Institutes
have also been authorized for certifying the self propelled machines
against the statutory requirements under Central Motor Vehicle Rules and
the facility for testing of engines for emission of exhaust gases has
been commissioned at Budni institute.
With a
view to make available quality agricultural implements and machines to
the farmers under various Government assisted programmes and schemes,
the State Governments have been advised to ensure the quality of
machines before they are supplied to the farmers. Keeping in view the
huge demand for testing, the testing of some equipment has also been
decentralized and the State Governments may test the equipment, if
considered necessary, through institutions such as any Department of
SAU, any Engineering College, ICAR institutions, KVK or any other
research institute designated by the State Governments to undertake such
activity. The test reports released by these designated institutions
may be relied upon by all the State Governments.
(c)
Popularization of Improved Agricultural Machines:
For improving adoption of technologies for crop production, it is
necessary to properly demonstrate utility of technologies to farmers for
achieving higher production and productivity. Therefore, with objective
of induction of improved/new technology in agricultural production
system, demonstration of newly developed agricultural/ horticultural
equipments at the farmers’ fields have been introduced and 100%
grant-in-aid is given to the implementing agencies i.e State
Governments/UTs and Government organizations like ICAR and SFCI for
procurement and demonstration of identified equipment.
(d) Incentives for Purchase of Agricultural Machines Implements:
In
order to make available various agricultural implements and machines at
cheaper rates, assistance in the form of subsidy @ 25%to 50% of the cost
of equipment/machine with permissible ceiling limits is available to all
category of farmers for the purchase of various agricultural equipments
under various schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation
such as Macro Management of Agriculture, National Food Security
Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Horticulture Mission
etc.
(e) Incentives for
Setting up of Custom Hiring Centres of Agricultural Machines:
Incentives in the form of subsidy is supported through the RKVY and
Macro Management Schemes so that the established Farm Machinery Banks
would make available costly equipment to the farmer and would supplement
the efforts of the Government in extending appropriate mechanization in
the country, make available different input supply and services to needy
farmers, provide gainful employment to rural unemployed youth, resulting
in timeliness of farm operations thus ultimately leading to increase in
production and productivity.
(f) Promotion of Post Harvest Management
The post-harvest
management is promoted by way of establishment of post-harvest
technologies in the production catchments under the bilateral agreement
of ICAR and Self-Help Group (SHG)/User Groups (UG) of
farmers/Cooperative Societies of Farmers/Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) with 40% assistance from the Government and remaining 60% coming
from the beneficiary.
Establishment of low
cost PHT with Government assistance @ 40% of the total cost of
technology/project is also supported and the technologies involving
initial project investment upto Rs. 2 lakh may be opted by individual
farmer.
Demonstration of the
crop/area specific post-harvest technologies is also being undertaken
through State Governments, All India Coordinated Research Projects on
Post Harvest Technology Centres and KVKs of ICAR, CSIR Extension Centre
and State Agricultural Universities. The Government provides 100 percent
grant to meet the expenses towards purchase and establishment of
technologies/equipment and contingency expenditures for demonstrations
of agricultural implements.
Financial assistance @
Rs. 2600/- per farmer per week and Rs. 3000/- per entrepreneur/scientist
per week is also provided to the institutions identified for training of
farmers, entrepreneurs and scientist on post-harvest Management. |