India's Push for Enhanced Farm Mechanization

The Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) in Bhopal is tasked with studying farm machinery and custom hiring in India. This initiative, under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), aims to boost farm mechanization, offering financial support for equipment purchases and the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres.

The Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE), located in Bhopal, has been assigned to conduct an extensive study on the status of farm machinery and custom hiring in India. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan revealed this in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the government's commitment to advancing farm mechanization across the country.

This study, initiated in July 2024 under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), aims to understand and improve mechanization accessibility for small-scale and marginal farmers. The government's Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) program supports this initiative by providing financial aid for machinery acquisition.

To date, Rs 8,110.24 crore has been allocated to various states since SMAM's inception in 2024-15. The states have distributed over 19.51 lakh machines and equipment and established more than 52,000 Custom Hiring Centres and Farm Machinery Banks to facilitate farming equipment rentals for diverse agricultural needs.

(With inputs from agencies.)