SYLLABUS

GS-3: E-technology in the aid of farmers; Technology Missions.

Context: The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is witnessing a rapid expansion across the country, enhancing farmers’ access to modern agricultural machinery and improving farm productivity and efficiency.  

More on the News

• Since its launch, SMAM has emerged as a key intervention for promoting inclusive farm mechanization, particularly among small and marginal farmers and other underserved groups.
• The scheme has significantly expanded mechanization infrastructure through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs) and Hi-Tech Hubs, improving access to farm equipment on a shared basis.
• Recent efforts under the scheme have also focused on promoting drone-based and precision agriculture technologies to modernize Indian farming.

About the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

• Launched in 2014–15, the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
• For most states, the funding pattern is 60:40, while for North-Eastern and Himalayan states, it is 90:10. UTs get 100% central assistance.
• It seeks to promote farm mechanization across the country, particularly among farmers with limited access to modern agricultural machinery and equipment.
• The scheme follows a “reach the unreached” approach to make mechanization affordable, accessible and inclusive.
• Objectives:
  Increase the reach of farm mechanization, particularly among small and marginal farmers and in regions with low farm power availability.
  Improve productivity, operational efficiency and timeliness of farm operations through adoption of modern machinery.
  Reduce labour drudgery and cultivation costs while promoting post-harvest management and sustainable agriculture.
• Focus Areas
  Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization: Supports training, demonstrations, testing and post-harvest mechanization to improve adoption of modern farm technologies.
  Financial Assistance for Agricultural Machinery: Provides DBT-based subsidies for machinery purchase, with higher support for SC/ST farmers, small and marginal farmers and beneficiaries in the North-East.
  Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) and Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs): Facilitates shared access to agricultural equipment through institutional models, making mechanization affordable for farmers who cannot purchase machinery individually.
  Hi-Tech and High-Productivity Equipment Hubs: Promotes access to advanced, high-capacity and crop-specific machinery for precision and efficient farm operations.
  Special Focus on North-Eastern Region (NER): Provides enhanced financial support and region-specific interventions to address mechanization gaps and improve access to modern farm equipment in the North-East.

Key Achievements under SMAM

• Since inception, central assistance of ₹9,404.47 crore has supported the distribution of 21.61 lakh agricultural machines to farmers across the country.
• The scheme has established 27,554 CHCs, 25,608 FMBs and 646 Hi-Tech Hubs, while the number of individual beneficiaries increased from 2.07 lakh (2020–21) to 2.32 lakh (2024–25).
• Under the promotion of agricultural drones, 40,928 demonstrations covering 40,918 hectares have been conducted, supporting the adoption of precision agriculture.

Need for Mechanization in Indian Agriculture

• Low Level of Farm Mechanization: Farm mechanization in India is estimated at around 47–48%, indicating significant scope for improving productivity and efficiency in agriculture.
• Small and Fragmented Landholdings: With over 86% of operational holdings belonging to small and marginal farmers, shared-access models such as CHCs and FMBs are essential for ensuring affordable access to machinery.
• Labour Shortages and Rising Costs: Increasing rural labour shortages and rising wage costs have made mechanization critical for timely agricultural operations and reducing dependence on manual labour.
• Need for Precision and Sustainable Agriculture: Adoption of modern machinery, including drones and precision farming tools, is increasingly necessary for efficient input use, climate-resilient agriculture and reduction of post-harvest losses.

Challenges

• Regional Disparities in Mechanization: Mechanization levels remain uneven across states, with eastern and north-eastern regions lagging behind agriculturally advanced states such as Punjab and Haryana.
• Affordability and Technology Barriers: High machinery costs and limited technical capacity continue to constrain adoption of advanced equipment such as drones and precision farming tools.
• Inadequate Support Infrastructure: Gaps in repair facilities, skilled operators, extension services and post-harvest mechanization infrastructure constrain the effective and widespread use of farm machinery.

Way Ahead

• Expand Shared Mechanization Infrastructure: Scale up CHCs, FMBs and Hi-Tech Hubs, particularly in regions with low mechanization levels, to provide affordable access to modern machinery.
• Promote Precision and Digital Agriculture: Promote drones, precision agriculture and other advanced technologies through targeted incentives and capacity building.
• Strengthen Support for Small and Marginal Farmers: Enhance credit access, subsidy delivery and FPO-based mechanization models to make advanced equipment more affordable and accessible.
• Focus on Regional and Capacity Building Gaps: Prioritise mechanization in eastern and north-eastern India while strengthening training, maintenance services and rural technical support systems for sustainable adoption.