Due to small land holdings using compatible equipment is not economically advantageous in the case of India and custom hiring centers for agriculture to farmers through agricultural machinery are the only way out, said Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh.
Singh inaugurated two-day Conference on “Innovations in Agricultural Mechanization – Development of linkage among R&D Institutes – Industry – Farmers” at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, Singh congratulated Agricultural Scientists for contributing in increased farm produce through mechanization. Singh exhorted manufacturers to come forward for the commercialization of technology so that the appropriate technology may reach to the farmers.
He referred to the establishment of four new Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes in the Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Singh advised to adopt the technologies in agriculture which can save the water and thereby increase the profitability.
He also released the book “Farm Mechanization in India – The Custom Hiring Perspective” on this occasion.
The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, S.K. Pattanayak stressed upon the formidable challenges in the agriculture sector such as shrinking land base, dwindling water resources, shortage of farm labour, increasing costs and uncertainties associated with volatility in international markets.
However, the challenges can be addressed and the productivity of the farm in-turn can be realized by increasing land and labour efficiency in agriculture through appropriate farm mechanization, he underlined.
During the plenary session, the eminent personalities in the field of agricultural mechanization presented the latest innovations and technological development in the agricultural machinery and equipments.
During the two days conference, it is expected that the deliberations of the conference would contribute to the process of developing, introducing and sustaining new technologies and applications in the Indian farming system.