ICAR-AICRP on Farm Machinery and Implements

Year of Establishment: November 2015

About the Scheme

Centre: All India Coordinated Research Project on Farm Implements and Machinery

Sub-centre: Prototype Feasibility Testing Centre

Background

• ICAR sanctioned new centre during XIIth five year plan on April 2015
• Scheme started functioning from November 2015

Mandate

To identify the mechanization gaps and future needs of improved farm equipment and machines for different agro-climatic regions, crops and operations and to conduct feasibility testing, frontline demonstration and promote custom hiring of farm equipment and machinery to bridge identified mechanization gaps.

Activities to be Carried Out Under the Project

1. Mechanization studies to identify crops and operations from which improved machines are required.
2. Identification of designs of farm implements and machinery which can be adopted to fill the identified mechanization gaps.
3. Procurement and feasibility testing of identified equipment on farmer’s field and their adaption under local agro-climatic conditions.
4. Popularization of adapted farm implements and machinery among farmers and promoting their manufacturing by involving local manufacturers. Collection of feedback from farmers for design refinement of the selected farm equipment.
5. Establishment of rural based service centres for distribution, repairs and maintenance and custom hiring service of improved farm implements and machinery by training rural unemployed youth.

Achievements of Project

• The project mainly tested the efficiency/capacity of advanced machinery, modified the machines according to this area, and conducted front-line demonstrations of agricultural machinery tested at various centers and farmers' fields and created awareness among the farmers.

The advanced machinery that was created among the farmers is

• For ploughing/ land preparation: First/Second stage ploughing implements, check basin farmer and laser leveler.
• For sowing/ transplanting: Animal-powered and tractor-powered multi-crop planters, millet planters, seed cum fertilizer drill, drum seeder, paddy transplanter, sugarcane cutter planter, sugarcane seedling transplanter.
• For intercropping (weed/disease/pest management): Rotary weeder, 2-row weeder, cono weeder, cycle weeder, baby weeder, backpack weeder, battery-powered paddy weeder, motor-powered weeder, solar sprayer, solar insect trap, drone sprayer.
• For harvesting: Backpack harvester, Reaper, Reaper binder, Combine harvester.
• For threshing: Multi-crop thresher, Maize thresher, Groundnut thresher, Grain thresher.
• For processing: Solar dryer, Cleaner, Destoner, Dehuller, Grader, Pearler, Mini mill, Dhal mill, Dhal polisher.
• For straw/trash management: Baler, trash shredder, sugarcane leaf dethrasher.
• Other machines: Sugarcane ratoon manager, coconut tree climber, agricultural shredder, bud chipper, set cutter, manual and tractor operated post hole digger.

• In order to make farmers aware about advanced agricultural machinery, a one-day agricultural machinery fair is organized at the center every year in the month of February or March, and farmers of Mandya and other districts are taking advantage of it.
• Various training programs are being organized to create awareness among farmers, agricultural officers and students about the operation, repair and maintenance of various advanced agricultural machinery.
• As a result, it is noteworthy that the status of agricultural farm mechanization in Mandya and surrounding districts has increased by 20 to 40 percent.

Collaborations

• SKDRDP, Mandya
• VST tillers and Tractors, Mandya
• Kisankraft, Mandya
• ICAR-IIHR, Bangalore

Awards / Accomplishments

• Best article award from Agriculture and News and UAS, Bangalore
• Best display and demonstration award from UAS, Bangalore and Mandya

Contact