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 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
(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 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 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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