Innumerable sectors contribute towards the growth and development of a country, and one of those sectors is the agricultural. The agricultural sector is different from all the other sectors for the obvious reason that our existence depends upon it, but also because it is one of those few sectors that shines when science and years of experience meet.
Technology, when used mindfully, transforms the output of a sector, and therefore the government of India launched the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM). The government scheme is designed to encourage and increase the use of modern machinery in farming, which would help not only in improving the output but would also be a relaxing factor for the farmers.
About SMAM Scheme: Overview
| Name of the scheme | SMAM |
|---|
| Full form of the scheme | Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation |
| Launched in | 2014 |
| Launched by | Government of India |
| Ministry | Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare |
| Objective | To encourage and increase the use of modern machinery in farming |
| Target group | Small and marginal farmers |
| Financial aid | Subsidies are given for buying machinery |
| Application mode | Online |
Also Read: Farm Machinery Bank Scheme
What Is The Sub Mission On Agricultural Mechanisation?
The Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) is a government yojana that was launched in the year of 2014 under the purview of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The primary objective of the government initiative is to encourage and promote the use of modern machinery in farming practices.
This incorporation of technology would impact both the output of the agricultural products and also the farmers’ lives. The SMAM scheme is specifically for small and marginal farmers so that the less privileged can enjoy the extended help of the government.
Objectives Of The SMAM Scheme
There are several objectives of the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation. Some of its major objectives are mentioned below in detail:
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Use of machinery: The SMAM scheme aims to encourage and increase the use of machinery for various purposes like sowing, planting, irrigation, etc., in farming to improve the quality of the yield and make the lives of farmers a little easier.
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Target group: The government initiative is especially designed to provide help to small and marginal farmers (including women farmers).
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Financial aid: The SMAM scheme has a provision of providing a SMAM scheme subsidy to farmers so that they can purchase the machinery without any extra financial burden.
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Less exhaustive: Traditional agricultural practices tend to be exhaustive for the farmers or the labourers; therefore the machinery would help in reducing that physical exhaustion.
Strategy Of The Mission SMAM
The Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation aims to promote the use of machinery in traditional agricultural practices by providing subsidies, identifying those lands and farmers who would excel after the use of machinery, helping farmers choose the right type of machinery as per the season and need, and spreading awareness regarding the scheme.
Components Of The Mission SMAM
There are some key components of the SMAM scheme. All of those are mentioned below in brief for one’s better understanding:
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Monetary support: The government initiative provides a SMAM scheme subsidy so that farmers can purchase machinery without any extra financial burden.
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Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs): The SMAM scheme promotes the establishment of Custom Hiring Centres that help in the implementation of the scheme. CHCs are privately owned companies that provide machinery to farmers at affordable rents.
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Training sessions: The SMAM scheme organises various training programs for the farmers as well so that they can learn new things to improve the productivity of their lands and increase their incomes.
Benefits Of The SMAM Scheme
There are several benefits of doing SMAM scheme registration. Some of the key benefits are mentioned below:
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Development of the sector: The increased use of machinery would help in the overall development of the agriculture sector.
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Convenient: The use of machinery in carrying out agricultural activities would make the lives of the farmers much easier, time-saving, and convenient.
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Improved quality of yield: By doing SMAM scheme registration, the use of machinery would improve the quality of the crop and the land as well.
Eligibility Criteria Of The SMAM Scheme
Interested people first need to ensure whether they fit the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are as follows:
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Farmers must be from the community of SCs, STs, or OBCs.
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Farmers shouldn’t have more than 2 hectares of land.
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Farmers’ annual income shouldn’t be more than Rs. 2 lakh per year.
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Farmers must have a ration card.
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Farmers who are women would be given priority under the scheme.
Read more: Cultivating A Brighter Future: How India‘s Organic Farming Policies Are Changing Agriculture?
Application Process Of The SMAM Scheme
Interested and eligible individuals can complete the SMAM scheme registration by following some simple steps mentioned below:
Step 1: Please visit the official website of the scheme.
Step 2: Select the option of ‘application form’.
Step 3: Fill the form accurately.
Step 4: Upload all the supporting documents.
Step 5: Finish SMAM scheme registration.
Step 6: After verification and approval, the approved amount of the SMAM scheme subsidy will be credited directly into the applicant’s bank account.
Required Documents For The SMAM Scheme
Applicants need to submit some supporting documents to successfully finish SMAM scheme registration. The list of those documents is as follows:
Conclusion
The Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) is a step taken by the government to increase the pace of development of the agriculture sector by helping farmers shift toward using machinery in their lands.
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