Bhubaneswar: Odisha has witnessed a significant boost in the field of farm mechanization with the sale of machinery reaching over Rs 805 crore during the fiscal year 2022-23 and the target for fiscal year 2023-24 is Rs 1000 crore, said Principal Secretary of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda K Padhee, during the ‘Meeting of Manufacturers of Farm Machineries/implements/equipments’ held at Krushi Bhavan on Friday.
Dr. Padhee highlighted four major focus areas for the transformation of the agriculture sector in the state. The initial focus is on Crop Diversification to enhance non-paddy cultivation in the state in order to enhance farmers’ income. The second focus is on Farm Mechanization, which can help to address the shortage of manpower in the agriculture sector. The third and fourth areas of emphasis are Allied Sector Activities and Agri Entrepreneurship, respectively.
Addressing the manufactures, the Principal Secretary cautioned them against engaging in corrupt practices, emphasizing that strict action would be taken against those who are not adhering to the guidelines. Additionally, he stated that if manufacturers encounter any issues, they may contact departmental officials, including him.
Director of Agriculture & Food Production, Prem Chandra Chaudhary, highlighted the positive impact of farm mechanization melas on farmers and reiterated the government’s commitment to continue organizing such fairs. He emphasized the need for manufacturers to strictly comply with the terms and conditions of the service level agreement (SLA). In addition, he interacted with manufacturers to understand and address any issues they were facing, providing details on the actions taken and the actions to be taken by the government to support them.
The event revolved around the issues reported by farmers regarding the purchase of machinery. One of the major challenges is related to financial issues and the lack of access to quality loan products. Another problem is the lack of awareness about the process of buying machinery and the benefits of using farm machinery.
As manufacturers can have a significant impact on the successful implementation of schemes and the mechanization of farm power in Odisha, they were asked to improve the delivery of the scheme. They should encourage the use of the SAFAL portal for loan purposes and install collateral materials at all dealer points. Additionally, they should communicate the benefits of mechanization more effectively by targeting key self-help group members and influential progressive farmers. Manufacturers must also provide clear explanations of the scheme flow to farmers and applicants to ensure transparency and accountability.
During the event, the achievements of the state in the field of farm mechanization were also discussed. In the last five years, a total of 219,749 farming implements have been sold, and a subsidy of Rs 1417.464 crore has been disbursed. In the current fiscal year 2022-23, there have been 45,324 implements sold with a subsidy disbursal of Rs 262.950 crore. Overall, the total number of farming implements sold is 265,073, with a subsidy disbursal of Rs 1680.414 crore.
Since March 2017, the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode has been onboarded to provide subsidies directly to farmers for purchasing agricultural machinery. Currently, there are 186 active registered manufacturers and 2,212 registered dealers who sell farm implements. A total of 36 types of farm implements are available under the broad head of farm mechanization.
The farm power input has also increased, with the current level standing at 2.23 kW/ha till 2022. Manufacturers, suppliers, and financial institutions have played important roles as stakeholders in promoting the subsidy sale and mechanization of farm power. To further improve the process, the “GO SUGAM” portal has been established as a single window interface for farmers to access information and services related to farm mechanization. The programme for 2023 has set a target of Rs 412 crore, with detailed plans communicated district-wise to ensure effective implementation.
Around 100 manufacturers from Odisha and other states along with senior officials of the Department attended the meeting.