National Academy of Agricultural Sciences

Policy Interventions for Accelerating Indian Farm Mechanization to Achieve 75% Level by 2047

The National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) organized a one-day brainstorming session titled “Policy Interventions for Accelerating Indian Farm Mechanization to Achieve 75% Level by 2047” on January 21, 2025, in hybrid mode under the Chairmanship of Dr. Himanshu Pathak, President (NAAS). The session was Co-chaired by Dr. B.S. Dhillon, Vice-President (NAAS). Dr. S.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Engineering), ICAR, convened the session, with Dr. K.P. Singh, ADG (Farm Engineering), ICAR, as the Co-convener. The session was facilitated by Dr. W.S. Lakra, secretary (NAAS) and Dr. Ashok K. Singh Secretary (NAAS)

Dr. S.N. Jha presented a detailed overview of the current status, challenges, and potential policy interventions needed to scale up farm mechanization in India. Dr. Pathak, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of a holistic and strategic approach, stressing the need for the right machines for the right crops, timely interventions, and effective resource utilization. He highlighted challenges like maintenance of machinery and the untapped potential of unemployed youth in agriculture.

The discussions revolved around achieving 75% farm mechanization by 2047 and addressing barriers such as lack of clear policies, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient manpower at the grassroots level. Emphasis was placed on neglected areas like post-harvest mechanization and irrigation. Key recommendations included the establishment of Agricultural Engineering Directorates in each state, adequate appointments of agricultural engineers, and the creation of a National Institute for Agricultural Robotics and AI under NAREES. Opening specialized agricultural engineering colleges in agricultural and horticultural universities was also proposed to meet the demand for skilled manpower in high-tech and precision agriculture.

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