Enhancing Productivity through Farm Mechanisation

Launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is a flagship Indian scheme aimed at boosting farm productivity, reducing labour drudgery, and making high-tech agricultural equipment accessible to small and marginal farmers.

SMAM expands access for small farmers, women, and disadvantaged groups through targeted mechanization support nationwide. Special emphasis has been placed on underserved and North-Eastern States to address regional disparities in access to farm machinery and technology.

Since its inception, Rs. 9,404.47 crore has supported the distribution of 21.61 lakh agricultural machines to individual farmers across India. Over 40,928 drone demonstrations covering 40,918 hectares were conducted with Rs.52.5 crore in financial support, promoting precision agriculture adoption nationwide

Agriculture remains the backbone of the Indian economy, employing a significant portion of the workforce. However, a major structural challenge has been the preponderance of small and marginal landholdings, which make the direct ownership of expensive farm machinery — such as tractors, combine harvesters, and transplanters — financially unviable for individual farmers. To transition from traditional, labour-intensive subsistence farming to highly productive, commercial agriculture, the Government of India realised the necessity of improving farm power availability. The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) was launched exactly to address this.

Farm mechanization plays a critical role in enhancing agricultural productivity in India. It involves using machines, equipment, and modern technologies for agricultural operations across the crop production cycle. These operations include land preparation, sowing, irrigation, plant protection, harvesting, and post-harvest management.

By reducing dependence on manual labour and animal power, mechanisation enables timely and efficient farm operations. It lowers production costs and improves the quality of agricultural practices.

Key Objectives and Strategies

SMAM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). SMAM aims to “reach the unreached” by extending the benefits of mechanisation to underserved sections. It includes small and marginal farmers, including women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and rural entrepreneurs.

The scheme promotes the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs). These are units comprising a set of farm machinery, implements, and equipment meant for hiring by farmers. It also supports the development of hubs for hi-tech and high-value agricultural equipment, and the distribution of farm machinery. Awareness generation through demonstrations and capacity-building initiatives is also undertaken. Special focus is placed on regions with low farm power availability and on addressing structural constraints such as small landholdings and high capital costs through affordable rental services via CHCs.

Additionally, SMAM supports the performance testing and certification of agricultural machinery. Targeted Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities are undertaken to enhance adoption among stakeholders.

Quantitative Impact and Technological Advancement

SMAM has acted as a powerful catalyst for modernizing Indian agriculture, consistently driving up the national farm power availability. Since its inception, a staggering Rs. 9,404.47 crore has been allocated to support the distribution of 21.61 lakh agricultural machines to individual farmers across the country.

Furthermore, the mission has evolved to incorporate cutting-edge technologies. SMAM has been instrumental in scaling drone-based farming, providing financial backing for the adoption of agricultural drones for precision spraying of fertilizers and pesticides. To bridge the digital divide, the government launched the CHC-Farm Machinery mobile app, which acts as a digital aggregator, allowing farmers to seamlessly locate and rent machines from nearby Custom Hiring Centres.

Innovation in Action: How SMAM is Scaling Drone-Based Farming

SMAM encourages the use of drones to improve agricultural operations. With financial support of ₹52.50 crore under the scheme, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has promoted drone adoption through large-scale field demonstrations across the country. During 2023–24 to 2025–26, ICAR, in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs), conducted 40,928 Kisan Drone demonstrations across the country, covering 40,918 hectares. These demonstrations focused on the application of nutrients, fertilizers, and agro-chemicals in accordance with prescribed standard operating procedures.

To facilitate widespread adoption, SMAM provides financial assistance for drone procurement and demonstrations. Eligible institutions such as ICAR institutes, KVKs, and State Agricultural Universities receive 100 percent financial support of up to ₹10 lakh per drone for these activities. Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs) are eligible for grant support of up to 75 percent. In addition, agencies utilizing drones through service models are supported with a contingency expenditure of ₹6,000 per hectare.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite remarkable successes, challenges such as regional disparities in mechanization (with varying adoption rates across different states), the need for better machinery maintenance infrastructure, and the continuous requirement to upskill farmers persist. Looking forward, the government envisions further expanding the network of hi-tech machinery hubs and promoting green, fuel-efficient farm technologies.

Conclusion

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization is more than just an agricultural equipment distribution scheme; it is a vital developmental tool for social equity and economic empowerment. By empowering small-scale farmers, mitigating labor shortages, and boosting per-hectare productivity, SMAM is playing a definitive role in shaping a resilient, profitable, and modernized agricultural sector in India.