Centre allocated RS 6,400 cr for mechanisation in farm sector

New Delhi: The government has allocated nearly Rs 6,500 crore for mechanisation in the farm sector since 2014-15 as part of efforts to reduce input cost and boost farmers' income, a senior official said.

The Centre has also provided more than 15 lakh machines and equipment to farmers on subsidy. "During the period from 2014-15 to December 2023, an amount of Rs 6,405.55 crore have been allocated for agricultural mechanisation.

A total of 15,23,650 machines and equipment have been provided to farmers on subsidy," the official said. That apart, 23,018 custom hiring centres, 475 high-tech hubs and 20,461 farm machinery banks have been established to make available agricultural machines and equipment to farmers on a rental basis.

The government is also promoting drone technology in the agriculture sector in a big way, the official said. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been released on how to use drones in agriculture. "In order to make this technology affordable to farmers and other stakeholders of this sector, financial assistance at 100 per cent cost of drone, along with the contingent expenditure, is provided for its demonstration on the farmers' fields. "So far, an amount of Rs 141.41 crore has been released towards Kisan drone promotion," the official said. Moreover, the government has recently approved a central sector scheme for providing drones to the Women Self Help Group (SHGs) for the period from 2024-25 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs 1,261 crore. The scheme aims to provide drones to 14,500 selected women SHGs for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purposes (application of fertilisers and pesticides).

Under this scheme, central financial assistance at 80 per cent of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges up to a maximum of Rs 8 lakh will be provided to the women SHGs for purchase of drones, the official said. In order to mobilise a medium-long-term debt financing facility for investment in agri infrastructure, Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of Rs 1 lakh crore was launched in 2020.