Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

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Recently ,the Government of India has released funds for various activities of Farm Mechanization to empower the farmers through the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme.

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

• The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) was launched in the year 2014-15 under the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology.
• Under the scheme, the Government of India releases funds for Farm Mechanization like Establishment of Custom Hiring Centres, Farm Machinery Bank, High-tech Hubs to different states .

Aims and Objectives

• To boost up mechanization in the agriculture sector, improving agricultural implements and machinery that are essential inputs for modern agriculture.
  • This will enhance the productivity of crops besides reducing human drudgery and cost of cultivation. 
• To offset the adverse economies of scale arising due to small and fragmented landholding and high cost of individual ownership; creating awareness among stakeholders through demonstration and capacity building activities and ensuring performance testing and certification of agricultural machines at designated testing centres located all over the country.
• It will boost income of farmers and growth of the agricultural economy.

Components of SMAM

• Promotion and Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanization through Training, Testing and Demonstration: Aims to ensure performance testing of agricultural machinery and equipment, capacity building of farmers and end users and promoting farm mechanization through demonstrations.
• Demonstration, Training and Distribution of Post-Harvest Technology and Management (PHTM): Aims at popularizing technology for primary processing, value addition, low cost scientific storage/transport and the crop by-product management.
• Financial Assistance for Procurement of Agriculture Machinery and Equipment: Promotes ownership of various agricultural machinery & equipment as per norms of assistance. 

Advantages of Farm Mechanization

• It plays a vital role in optimizing the use of land, water energy resources, manpower and other inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
• It maximizes the productivity of the available cultivable area and makes agriculture a more profitable and attractive profession for rural youth.
• It is one of the key drivers for the sustainable development of the agriculture sector. 
• It also helps in improving the utilization efficiency of other inputs therefore considered to be one of the most important segments of the agriculture sector to boost the income of farmers and growth of the agricultural economy. 
• Apart from SMAM, farm mechanisation is also promoted through various other schemes and programmes of the ministry such as RKVY, NFSM, NHM, NMOOP etc.

Disadvantages of Farm Mechanization

• Not fruitful for small farms:  For proper and efficient utilization of agricultural machinery, large farm holdings are essential.
• Surplus Workers: A surplus unemployed workforce may emerge as machines can work more efficiently.
• It has also been associated with the problem of stubble burning in areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Way Forward

• Proper awareness campaigns must be held in order to educate the farmers about the  advantages of farm mechanization. Most of the farmers are not educated to use the latest technology.
• Farm mechanization should be appropriate for the areas where manual labour is not very fruitful. 

Source :PIB