A two-day regional review meeting on agricultural mechanization schemes was held in Coimbatore, bringing together officials from southern states to discuss implementation strategies and challenges.
Coimbatore: The Mechanization and Technology Division of the Department of Agriculture Co-operation and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, conducted a regional review meeting on the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) and Namo Drone Didi schemes. The two-day event, held on August 23 and 24, 2024, at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, brought together key stakeholders from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry.
Chaired by Joint Secretary S. Rukmani from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the meeting aimed to evaluate and enhance the adoption of mechanization practices in agriculture across the southern region. The Joint Secretary emphasized the promotion of Agricultural Machinery Custom Hiring Centres and Farm Machinery Banks to assist small and marginal farmers who cannot afford high-cost machinery.
Rukmani praised the Uzhavar App developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, recognizing it as a comprehensive solution for farmers' agricultural needs, including mechanization. Discussions were held on potential changes to the SMAM guidelines and the inclusion of new machinery and equipment under the scheme.
The Chief Engineer (AE) of the Agricultural Engineering Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, stressed the importance of increasing farm power availability for small and marginal farmers. State representatives unanimously requested to separate the SMAM from the RKVY-Umbrella scheme.
Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, the Joint Secretary urged states to focus on selecting appropriate clusters for drone usage, identifying progressive Cluster Level Federations and women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) for drone operations, and ensuring business opportunities for selected women SHGs in coordination with Lead Fertilizer Companies and pesticide manufacturers.
The delegation visited the Government Tractor Workshop of the Agricultural Engineering Department, where they observed demonstrations of innovative machinery such as the Truck-mounted Coconut Hoist with spraying attachment, Tractor rear-mounted lifting fork, and Tractor Driving School components including a Live Tractor Cut Model and Tractor Simulator.
The review meeting concluded with a field visit to Thondamuthur block in Coimbatore District, where officials inspected Solar Fencing and Solar Drier Units installed in farmers' fields.
Chaired by Joint Secretary S. Rukmani from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the meeting aimed to evaluate and enhance the adoption of mechanization practices in agriculture across the southern region. The Joint Secretary emphasized the promotion of Agricultural Machinery Custom Hiring Centres and Farm Machinery Banks to assist small and marginal farmers who cannot afford high-cost machinery.
Rukmani praised the Uzhavar App developed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, recognizing it as a comprehensive solution for farmers' agricultural needs, including mechanization. Discussions were held on potential changes to the SMAM guidelines and the inclusion of new machinery and equipment under the scheme.
The Chief Engineer (AE) of the Agricultural Engineering Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, stressed the importance of increasing farm power availability for small and marginal farmers. State representatives unanimously requested to separate the SMAM from the RKVY-Umbrella scheme.
Under the Namo Drone Didi scheme, the Joint Secretary urged states to focus on selecting appropriate clusters for drone usage, identifying progressive Cluster Level Federations and women Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) for drone operations, and ensuring business opportunities for selected women SHGs in coordination with Lead Fertilizer Companies and pesticide manufacturers.
The delegation visited the Government Tractor Workshop of the Agricultural Engineering Department, where they observed demonstrations of innovative machinery such as the Truck-mounted Coconut Hoist with spraying attachment, Tractor rear-mounted lifting fork, and Tractor Driving School components including a Live Tractor Cut Model and Tractor Simulator.
The review meeting concluded with a field visit to Thondamuthur block in Coimbatore District, where officials inspected Solar Fencing and Solar Drier Units installed in farmers' fields.