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The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has recommended that Karnataka should effect a 33 per cent cut in credit flow to farm mechanisation at Rs 1,253.17 crore for the next financial year (2012-13), ompared with Rs 1,666.42 crore fixed for the current financial year (2011-12). The credit flow to this sector during 2010-11 was Rs 962.61 crore.
The bank has said that capping the credit for combined harvesters to 20 per cent of total disbursement under Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure, Grading and Standardisation (AMIGS) was the key reason for cut in credit flow.
Cost-saving approach
Nabard has also recommended that the State government go for a community approach in introducing farm mechanisation. A community approach to farm operations such as tillage, sowing, spraying of pesticides and harvesting among small and marginal farmers would cut down cultivation costs and improve yields and profits.
Also, the State Government should encourage the setting up of more machinery servicing units under the district industries centres (DIC), so that repairs and maintenance of tractors/ power tillers can be carried out at the village level.
“Farmers are not very conversant with the operational aspects of various farm implements/equipments. Line departments of the government may organise awareness meets on the latest developments in farm mechanisation, so that the farmers are sensitised about the various types of equipment available,” said Mr S. N. A. Jinnah, Chief General Manager, Nabard-Karnataka.
Farm-holding size
An input survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Agriculture reveals that the percentage growth of tractors, pumpsets and threshers has been higher in the marginal and small farm holding categories. Thus, investment in farm mechanisation is now more demand-driven.
According to Mr Jinnah, tractors and power tillers have now become the prime source of motive power for tillage, threshing and transport because of costlier farm labour, especially for such critical operations as sowing and harvesting.
“With the growing popularity of custom-hiring and scarcity of labour, the holding size is fast losing relevance as far as estimating farm mechanisation potential is concerned. However, it continues to influence the ownership pattern and selection of equipment,” he added.
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