Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization: Expanding Access to Modern Farming Tools

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization: Expanding Access to Modern Farming Tools

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Why in News

  • The **Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)** has improved access to modern farm equipment for small landholders, women, and marginalized communities, especially in underserved regions and North-Eastern states.
  • Since its start, central assistance of **₹9,404.47 crore** helped distribute **21.61 lakh** machines, while **₹52.5 crore** funded **40,928** drone demonstrations over **40,918 hectares** to encourage precision farming.

What is the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization?

  • Launched in **2014-15** as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the **Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)**, **SMAM** aims to spread farm mechanization across India.
  • The initiative operates on the core guiding motto of 'reach the unreached' to deliver benefits to small farmers, women, **SC/ST** groups, **Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs)**, and rural entrepreneurs.
  • The scheme funds the setup of **Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs)**, enabling small landholders to rent expensive farm machinery and equipment at affordable rates.
  • It encourages the distribution of specialized machinery and supports high-tech hubs for costly agricultural tools.
  • The program focuses on areas with low farm power availability, while rental services help farmers overcome challenges linked to small land sizes.
  • Between **2014-15** and **2025-26**, central aid of **₹9,404.47 crore** funded **21.61 lakh** individual machines, **27,554** CHCs, **646** Hi-tech Hubs, and **25,608** Farm Machinery Banks.
  • Beneficiaries gaining individual equipment ownership grew from **2.07 lakh** in **2020-21** to **2.32 lakh** in **2024-25**, showing wider coverage.
  • The central and state governments split financial spending in a **60:40** ratio, which changes to **90:10** for Himalayan and North-Eastern States, while Union Territories get **100%** central funding.
  • Training programs, field demonstrations, and outreach campaigns build practical awareness and skill sets among farmers.
  • The mission supports performance testing and machinery certification to verify standard quality, safety, and operational efficiency.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

  • Launched in **2007**, the **Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)** acts as a key flagship initiative motivating states to boost public spending on agriculture.
  • It offers administrative flexibility to state governments, allowing them to design local projects tailored to regional farming priorities.
  • The scheme finances core agricultural areas, including crop cultivation, machinery, infrastructure setup, and post-harvest value addition.
  • In **2017-18**, RKVY was restructured as **RKVY-RAFTAR** to focus heavily on strengthening pre-harvest and post-harvest supply chain systems.

Strategic Pillars of SMAM for Enhancing Farm Productivity

  • Training, testing, and field demonstrations improve overall productivity while boosting post-harvest infrastructure for processing, crop residue handling, and storage.
  • Direct Benefit Transfer (**DBT**) subsidies cover **40%** of equipment costs for general farmers and **50%** for **SC/ST**, small, and North-Eastern farmers, alongside **₹2,000 per hectare** support for mechanized services.
  • Self-Help Groups and FPOs receive **80% to 90%** aid to set up Farm Machinery Banks up to **₹30 lakh**, while Custom Hiring Centres get **40%** assistance for projects costing up to **₹250 lakh**.
  • Specialized equipment hubs provide high-capacity, crop-tailored machinery to streamline large-scale field activities and give farmers access to advanced technologies.
  • The North-Eastern region receives priority financial assistance, including subsidies up to **100%** for small tools and **95%** support for setting up Farm Machinery Banks.

Role of Farm Mechanization and Drone Technology under SMAM

  • Agricultural mechanization introduces modern tools across all cultivation stages, from land preparation and sowing to spraying, harvesting, and crop handling.
  • It lowers reliance on manual labor, speeds up farm work, cuts down overall operational expenditure, and optimizes crop yields.
  • SMAM actively encourages agricultural drones, giving **₹52.50 crore** to the **Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)** to run extensive field demonstrations.
  • Between **2023-24** and **2025-26**, **ICAR**, state agricultural universities, and **Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs)** conducted **40,928** Kisan Drone demonstrations spanning **40,918 hectares** for chemical and nutrient spraying.
  • Research bodies receive **100%** grants up to **₹10 lakh** per drone, FPOs receive up to **75%** assistance, while service agencies get **₹6,000 per hectare** as contingency aid.
  • The sub-mission reserves **30%** of its overall outlay specifically for women farmers to promote female participation in mechanized farming.

Way Forward

  • While SMAM has widened equipment access for marginalized groups and women, long-term success requires making rentals affordable and providing hands-on training across all districts.
  • Sustained growth will depend on region-specific technology deployment and promoting eco-friendly, climate-smart machinery to build sustainable farming systems.