11.0 GOVERNMENT OF
(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
(
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 State Agricultural Universities (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/equipments 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, Indian
Council of Agricultural Research (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 new technology 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 100% grant-in-aid is given to the
implementing agencies i.e State Governments/UTs and Government organizations like ICAR and State Farm
Corporation of India (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, Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)Extension
Centres and
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.
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