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Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) is a centrally sponsored scheme of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched in 2014-15 to promote farm mechanisation, with a particular focus on small and marginal farmers and regions of historically low mechanisation. It funds individual machinery purchases and shared-use Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) and Farm Machinery Banks.

Overview

SMAM channels capital subsidy into tractors, power tillers, rotavators, power weeders, harvesters, reapers, threshers, transplanters, drone-based applicators and a wide range of crop-specific implements. The scheme also finances training, demonstration and post-installation service infrastructure.

Eligibility

Individual farmers, FPOs, cooperatives and Self-Help Groups can apply. The scheme prioritises women farmers, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe applicants and small and marginal landholders for the higher subsidy slab. Only approved machinery models, listed on the agrimachinery.nic.in portal, are eligible.

Benefit and structure

  • 50% subsidy for SC/ST, women and small or marginal farmers on approved machinery
  • 40% subsidy for other farmers
  • Higher subsidy support for Custom Hiring Centres and Farm Machinery Banks set up by FPOs, cooperatives or rural entrepreneurs
  • Delivery through agrimachinery.nic.in DBT portal, linked to the buyer's bank account

Implementation

State agriculture departments process applications through the agrimachinery.nic.in portal. Once an empanelled dealer raises an invoice and the farmer pays the beneficiary share, the central subsidy is released via DBT. CHC and FMB projects can additionally use AIF (see Nabard Agri Infrastructure Fund) for working capital and shed construction. SMAM dovetails with mechanised micro-irrigation (see Pmksy Micro Irrigation Subsidy) and FPO-led mechanisation hubs (Farmer Producer Organisation Fpo).

See also Pmksy Micro Irrigation Subsidy, Midh Mission Integrated Horticulture, Kisan Credit Card Kcc, Nabard Agri Infrastructure Fund and Farmer Producer Organisation Fpo.

References

  1. SMAM Guidelines 2018-19. agrimachinery.nic.in.
  2. Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization. Press Information Bureau.