Annual Report 2009-2010 - Department of Agriculture & Co-operation

Hissar (Haryana), Garladinne (Andhra Pradesh),
and Biswanath Chariali (Assam), have been
imparting training to farmers, technicians, retired
and retiring defence personnel, etc., in the
selection, operation, maintenance, energy
conservation, and management of agricultural
equipment. These institutes have also been
conducting testing and performance evaluations
of various agricultural implements and machines.
During the year 2009-10, 3,379 persons were
trained up to 31 December 2009, against the
annual target of 5,600, in different courses. The
training target during the Eleventh Plan has been
increased to 28,000, from 25,000 during the
Tenth Plan. To supplement the efforts of the
FMTTIs in human resource development,
outsourcing of training through SAUs, agricultural
engineering colleges, polytechnics, etc., has
been approved during the Eleventh Plan. For the
training of farmers, identified institutions are
reimbursed at the rate of Rs 5,200 per trainee
per month, which also includes a stipend of Rs.
1,200 per month and to and fro travel expenses
by normal modes of transport. The target for
training by outsourcing during the Eleventh Plan
is 10,000 persons, and the physical target for
2009-10 is to train 2,000 farmers.
12.4 Testing of Farm Machinery and
Equipment: The institute at Budni has been
authorised to conduct tests on tractors and other
agricultural machinery; while the institute at
Hissar conducts tests on self-propelled combine
harvesters, irrigation pumps, plant protection
equipment, agricultural implements, and other
machinery, including the issuing of Central Motor
Vehicle Rules(CMVR) certificates for combine
harvesters. The institute at Garladinne has been
authorised to test power tillers and also to
conduct tests on various agricultural implements,
equipment and components. This Institute is
being developed as a speciality institute for
meeting mechanisation demands in rain-fed and
dry land farming systems. The institute at
Biswanath Chariali (Assam) tests bullock-drawn
implements, manually operated equipment,
tractor-drawn implements, self-propelled
machines, and small hand tools. For the Eleventh
Plan, the target for testing has been kept at 550
machines/tools.
12.5 The four FMTTIs altogether have tested
145 machines of various categories, including
tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters,
reapers, rotavators, and other implements, up
to 31 November 2009, against the target of 110
for the year 2009-10.
12.6 Demonstration of Newly Developed
Agricultural and Horticultural Equipment at
Farmers' Fields: For enhancing production and
productivity, as well as for reducing the cost of
production, the induction of improved and new
technology in the agricultural production system
is essential. Therefore, with this objective, the
demonstration of newly developed agricultural
equipment, including horticultural equipment, at
farmers' fields has been included as a component
of the restructured scheme of Promotion and
Strengthening of Agricultural Mechanisation
through Training, Testing, and Demonstration,
which will continue during the Eleventh Plan. This
scheme envisages demonstrations being
conducted of improved/newly developed
agricultural and horticultural equipment identified
by the state governments/Government
organisations at farmers' fields, to acquaint them
about their use and utility for the production of
different types of crops.
12.7 It has been reported by 15 state
governments that during the year 2009-10 (up
to 31 December 2009), the number of
demonstrations conducted is 1,813, covering
720 hectares with field machinery and 2,663
hours with stationary machinery, with the
participation of over 35,416 farmers.
12.8 Farm Mechanisation Programmes under
Mechanisation and Technology
71