UPSC Exams
Latest Update
Coaching
UPSC Current Affairs
Syllabus
UPSC Notes
Previous Year Papers
UPSC Mains Previous Year Question Papers Last 25 Years UPSC Prelims Question Papers Last 10 Years UPSC Question Papers UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Question Paper UPSC Mains 2024 Model Answers UPSC 2024 Question Papers UPSC 2023 Question Papers UPSC 2022 Question Papers UPSC 2021 Question Papers UPSC 2020 Question Papers UPSC 2019 Question Papers UPSC 2018 Question Papers UPSC 2017 Question Papers UPSC 2016 Question Papers UPSC 2015 Question Papers UPSC 2014 Question Papers UPSC CSAT Question Papers UPSC IFS Previous Year Paper UPSC Assistant Labour Commissioner Previous Question Year Papers UPSC Combined Geo Scientist Previous Year Paper UPSC APFC Previous Year Question Papers UPSC CMS Previous Year Question Paper UPSC EPFO Previous Year Paper UPSC Air Safety Officer Previous Year Papers UPSC SO Steno Previous Year Paper UPSC IES ISS Previous Year Question Papers
Mock Tests
UPSC Editorial
Bilateral Ties
Albania India Relations India Algeria Relations Andorra India Relations India Angola Relations India Antigua Barbuda Relations India Argentina Relations Austria India Relations India Azerbaijan Relations Bahamas India Relations India Bahrain Relations Barbados India Relations India Belarus Relations Belgium India Relations Belize India Relations Benin India Relations Bolivia India Relations India Bosnia Herzegovina Relations India Botswana Relations Brazil India Relations Brunei India Relations Bulgaria India Relations Burundi India Relations Cabo Verde India Relations India Cambodia Relations India Cameroon Relations Canada India Relations India Cayman Islands Relations India Central African Republic Relations India Chad Relations Chile India Relations India Colombia Relations India Comoros Relations India Democratic Republic Of The Congo Relations India Republic Of The Congo Relations India Cook Islands Relations India Costa Rica Relations India Ivory Coast Relations India Croatia Relations India Cyprus Relations India Czech Republic Relations India Djibouti Relations India Dominica Relations India Dominican Republic Relations India Ecuador Relations India El Salvador Relations India Equatorial Guinea Relations India Eritrea Relations Estonia India Relations India Ethiopia Relations India Fiji Relations India Finland Relations India Gabon Relations India Gambia Relations India Georgia Relations Germany India Relations India Ghana Relations India Greece Relations India Grenada Relations India Guatemala Relations India Guinea Relations India Guinea Bissau Relations India Guyana Relations India Haiti Relations India Holy See Relations India Honduras Relations India Hong Kong Relations India Hungary Relations India Iceland Relations India Indonesia Relations India Iran Relations India Iraq Relations India Ireland Relations India Jamaica Relations India Kazakhstan Relations India Kenya Relations India Kingdom Of Eswatini Relations India Kiribati Relations India Kuwait Relations India Kyrgyzstan Relations India Laos Relations Latvia India Relations India Lebanon Relations India Lesotho Relations India Liberia Relations Libya India Relations Liechtenstein India Relations India Lithuania Relations India Luxembourg Relations India Macao Relations Madagascar India Relations India Malawi Relations India Mali Relations India Malta Relations India Marshall Islands Relations India Mauritania Relations India Micronesia Relations India Moldova Relations Monaco India Relations India Montenegro Relations India Montserrat Relations India Morocco Relations Mozambique India Relations India Namibia Relations India Nauru Relations Netherlands India Relations India Nicaragua Relations India Niger Relations India Nigeria Relations India Niue Relations India North Macedonia Relations Norway India Relations India Palau Relations India Panama Relations India Papua New Guinea Relations India Paraguay Relations Peru India Relations India Philippines Relations Qatar India Relations India Romania Relations Rwanda India Relations India Saint Kitts And Nevis Relations India Saint Lucia Relations India Saint Vincent And Grenadines Relations India Samoa Relations India Sao Tome And Principe Relations Saudi Arabia India Relations India Senegal Relations Serbia India Relations India Sierra Leone Relations India Singapore Relations India Slovak Republic Relations India Slovenia Relations India Solomon Islands Relations Somalia India Relations India South Sudan Relations India Spain Relations India Sudan Relations Suriname India Relations India Sweden Relations India Syria Relations India Tajikistan Relations Tanzania India Relations India Togo Relations India Tonga Islands Relations India Trinidad And Tobago Relations India Tunisia Relations India Turkmenistan Relations India Turks And Caicos Islands Relations India Tuvalu Relations India Uganda Relations India Ukraine Relations India Uae Relations India Uruguay Relations India Uzbekistan Relations India Vanuatu Relations India Venezuela Relations India British Virgin Islands Relations Yemen India Relations India Zambia Relations India Zimbabwe Relations
Books
Government Schemes
Production Linked Incentive Scheme Integrated Processing Development Scheme Rodtep Scheme Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme Saathi Scheme Uday Scheme Hriday Scheme Samagra Shiksha Scheme India Nishta Scheme Stand Up India Scheme Sahakar Mitra Scheme Mdms Mid Day Meal Scheme Integrated Child Protection Scheme Vatsalya Scheme Operation Green Scheme Nai Roshni Scheme Nutrient Based Subsidy Scheme Kalia Scheme Ayushman Sahakar Scheme Nirvik Scheme Fame India Scheme Kusum Scheme Pm Svanidhi Scheme Pmvvy Scheme Pm Aasha Scheme Pradhan Mantri Mahila Shakti Kendra Scheme Pradhan Mantri Lpg Panjayat Scheme Mplads Scheme Svamitva Scheme Pat Scheme Udan Scheme Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat Scheme National Pension Scheme Ujala Scheme Operation Greens Scheme Gold Monetisation Scheme Family Planning Insurance Scheme Target Olympic Podium Scheme
Topics
NASA Space Missions
NASA Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Redstone 4 (Liberty Bell 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 7 (Aurora 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 8 (Sigma 7) Mission NASA Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7) Mission NASA Gemini 3 Mission NASA Gemini 4 Mission NASA Gemini 5 Mission NASA Gemini 7 Mission NASA Gemini 8 Mission NASA Gemini 9 Mission NASA Gemini 10 Mission NASA Gemini 11 Mission NASA Gemini 12 Mission NASA Apollo 1 (AS‑204) Mission NASA Apollo 7 Mission NASA Apollo 8 Mission NASA Apollo 9 Mission NASA Apollo 10 Mission NASA Apollo 11 Mission NASA Apollo 12 Mission NASA Apollo 13 Mission NASA Apollo 14 Mission NASA Apollo 15 Mission NASA Apollo 16 Mission NASA Apollo 17 Mission NASA Skylab Orbital Workshop Mission NASA Skylab 2 Mission NASA Skylab 3 Mission NASA Skylab 4 Mission NASA Apollo–Soyuz Test Project Mission NASA STS‑1 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑3 Columbia Mission NASA STS‑7 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑8 Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41B Challenger Mission NASA STS‑41G Discovery (1st female EVA) Mission NASA STS‑51L Challenger (accident) Mission NASA STS‑26 Discovery (Return‑to‑Flight) Mission NASA STS‑31 Discovery (Hubble Launch) Mission NASA STS‑49 Endeavour (first capture EVA) Mission NASA STS‑61 Endeavour (Hubble Servicing 1) Mission NASA STS‑73 Columbia (microgravity) Mission NASA STS‑95 Discovery (John Glenn returns) Mission NASA STS‑107 Columbia (accident) Mission NASA STS‑114 Discovery (RTF‑2) Mission NASA STS‑120 Discovery (Node 2) Mission NASA STS‑125 Atlantis (Final Hubble Service) Mission NASA STS‑132 Atlantis Mission NASA STS‑135 Atlantis (Final Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Artemis I (Orion/ SLS‑1) Mission NASA Artemis II (Planned) Mission NASA Artemis III (Planned lunar landing) Mission NASA Mariner 4 Mission NASA Mariner 6 Mission NASA Mariner 7 Mission NASA Mariner 9 Mission NASA Viking 1 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Viking 2 Orbiter/Lander Mission NASA Mars Pathfinder & Sojourner Mission NASA Mars Global Surveyor Mission NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Spirit Mission NASA Mars Exploration Rover – Opportunity Mission NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission NASA Phoenix Mars Lander Mission NASA InSight Mars Lander Mission NASA Mars 2020 (Perseverance & Ingenuity) Mission NASA Mars Sample Return – SRL (planned) Mission NASA Pioneer 10 Mission NASA Pioneer 11 Mission NASA Voyager 1 Mission NASA Voyager 2 Mission NASA Galileo Jupiter Orbiter/Probe Mission NASA Cassini–Huygens Mission NASA New Horizons (Pluto & KBO) Mission NASA Juno Mission NASA Europa Clipper (planned) Mission NASA Parker Solar Probe Mission NASA Solar Orbiter (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Surveyor 1 Mission NASA Lunar Orbiter 1 Mission NASA Lunar Prospector Mission NASA LCROSS Mission NASA LADEE Mission NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA VIPER Rover (planned) Mission NASA NEAR Shoemaker Mission NASA Deep Space 1 Mission NASA Stardust Mission NASA Genesis Mission NASA Deep Impact Mission NASA Dawn (Vesta/Ceres) Mission NASA OSIRIS‑REx Mission NASA Lucy Mission NASA DART Mission NASA Landsat‑1 (ERTS‑1) Mission NASA Landsat‑5 Mission NASA Landsat‑9 Mission NASA Terra Mission NASA Aqua Mission NASA Aura Mission NASA Suomi NPP Mission NASA Sentinel‑6 Michael Freilich Mission NASA ICESat‑2 Mission NASA GRACE‑FO Mission NASA SMAP Mission NASA GPM Core Observatory Mission NASA CALIPSO Mission NASA CloudSat Mission NASA NISAR (NASA‑ISRO) Mission NASA Explorer 1 Mission NASA COBE Mission NASA Compton Gamma Ray Observatory Mission NASA Hubble Space Telescope Mission NASA Chandra X‑ray Observatory Mission NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Mission NASA WISE Mission NASA Kepler Mission NASA TESS Mission NASA Fermi Gamma‑ray Space Telescope Mission NASA NICER Mission NASA IXPE Mission NASA Roman Space Telescope (planned) Mission NASA NuSTAR Mission NASA GALEX Mission NASA Swift Mission NASA SOHO (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA Cluster II (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA TIMED Mission NASA STEREO‑A/B Mission NASA MMS Mission NASA IRIS Mission NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory Mission NASA X‑37B OTV‑1 (USAF/NASA liaison) Mission NASA X‑59 QueSST Mission NASA Mars Helicopter Ingenuity Mission NASA Valkyrie R5 Robot Mission NASA Low‑Boom Flight Demo Mission NASA CRS‑1 Dragon Mission NASA CRS‑1 Cygnus Mission NASA Crew Dragon Demo‑2 Mission NASA Starliner OFT‑2 Mission NASA STS-2 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-4 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-5 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-6 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-41D (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-51A (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-61C (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-26 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-27 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-29 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-30 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-32 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-34 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-38 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-45 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-60 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-70 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-71 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-73 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-88 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-92 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-97 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-99 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-100 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-104 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-106 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-110 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-112 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-115 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-116 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-117 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-118 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-120 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-122 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-123 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-126 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA STS-130 (Shuttle flight) Mission NASA Vanguard 1 Mission NASA Transit 1B Mission NASA Echo 1 Mission NASA Telstar 1 Mission NASA Syncom 3 Mission NASA ATS‑6 Mission NASA Skynet Mission NASA Nimbus‑1 Mission NASA Nimbus‑7 Mission NASA ERS-1 Mission NASA SeaSat Mission NASA QuikSCAT Mission NASA Jason‑1 Mission NASA Jason‑3 Mission NASA ICESat Mission NASA Earth Observing‑1 Mission NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory‑2 Mission NASA CYGNSS Mission NASA PACE Mission NASA TRMM Mission NASA Terrestrial Planet Finder (cxl) Mission NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Mission NASA Explorer 33 Mission NASA Voyager Interstellar Mission Mission NASA Helios‑A Mission NASA Helios‑B Mission NASA ISEE‑3 (ICE) Mission NASA ACE Mission NASA DSCOVR Mission NASA IBEX Mission NASA Solar Orbiter Heliospheric Imager Mission NASA SAGE‑III ISS Mission NASA SPACE Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Mission NASA ARIEL (ESA/NASA) Mission NASA OSAM‑1 (Restore‑L) Mission NASA Dragonfly (Titan rotorcraft) Mission NASA VERITAS (Venus orbiter) Mission NASA DAVINCI (Venus probe) Mission NASA SPHEREx Mission NASA MAGGIE (Mars Geophysical) Mission NASA CLPS – Peregrine Mission NASA CLPS – VIPER Delivery Mission NASA CAPSTONE Mission NASA Gateway (HALO / PPE) Mission NASA Mars Telecommunication Orbiter (cxl) Mission NASA Mars Polar Lander (MPL) Mission NASA Mars Climate Orbiter Mission NASA Pathfinder Mission Mission NASA SLS Block 1B (Exploration Upper Stage) Mission NASA Orion Crew Module Mission NASA Commercial LEO Destinations – Axiom Station Mission NASA ISS Expedition 1 Mission NASA ISS Expedition 70 Mission NASA CRS‑11 (Dragon) Mission NASA CRS‑21 (Dragon 2) Mission NASA Snoopy CubeSat Mission

Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization - Aim, Objectives, Elements, Advantages & Disadvantages

Last Updated on Jan 11, 2024
Download As PDF
IMPORTANT LINKS

The Indian Government launched a scheme called SMAM (SMAM full form is Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization) to promote the use of machines in farming. Its goal is to make farming more efficient and productive by using modern equipment. The scheme covers different areas like buying machines, encouraging their use, showing how they work, and providing training. It is managed by the Department of Agriculture.

Source: Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Philippines

Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) is one of the most important topics for the UPSC IAS exam. It covers a significant part of the General Studies paper-2(Mains)  syllabus and current events for the UPSC prelims exam.

In this article, we shall study the complete overview of the Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) for UPSC and Important facts regarding it.

The UPSC aspirants can also take the help of Testbook’s UPSC online Coaching to boost their UPSC Exam preparation! 

What is Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)?

Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) is a scheme launched by the Government of India under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. This scheme aims to promote the use of agricultural machinery and equipment to enhance the productivity and efficiency of agriculture in India.

Aims and Objectives of SMAM 

The main objectives of Farm Mechanization are as follows:

  • To promote the use of agricultural machinery and equipment for various farming operations such as land preparation, sowing, planting, irrigation, harvesting, and post-harvest management.
  • To provide financial assistance to farmers and entrepreneurs for the purchase of new agricultural machinery and equipment.
  • To encourage the adoption of modern technologies in agriculture and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
  • To improve the efficiency and productivity of agriculture by reducing the dependence on manual labor.
  • To create employment opportunities in the agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers.

Study in detail about the Government Scheme Garib Kalyan Yojana!

FREEMentorship Program by
Ravi Kapoor, Ex-IRS
UPSC Exam-Hacker, Author, Super Mentor, MA
100+ Success Stories
Key Highlights
Achieve your Goal with our mentorship program, offering regular guidance and effective exam strategies.
Cultivate a focused mindset for exam success through our mentorship program.
UPSC Beginners Program

Get UPSC Beginners Program SuperCoaching @ just

₹50000

Claim for free

Elements of Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization

The key elements of SMAM are as follows:

Financial help for the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment

The scheme provides financial help to farmers and entrepreneurs for the purchase of agricultural machinery. The subsidy amount varies depending on the type of machinery and equipment being purchased.

Promotion of custom hiring centers (CHCs)

The scheme promotes the establishment of CHCs. They provide farmers with access to agricultural machinery and equipment on a rental basis. CHCs are typically established by private entrepreneurs or farmer cooperatives.

Training and capacity building of farmers and entrepreneurs

The scheme provides training and capacity-building programs for farmers and entrepreneurs. These programs are typically conducted by agricultural research institutions or farmer cooperatives.

Study in detail about Government Scheme Atal Pension Yojana (APY)!

The Strategy of the SMAM Scheme 

The strategy of the SMAM scheme involves the following steps:

  • Identification of potential areas for the adoption of agricultural machinery and equipment.
  • Creation of awareness among farmers and entrepreneurs about the benefits of agricultural mechanization.
  • Identification of the needs and requirements of farmers and entrepreneurs for agricultural machinery and equipment.
  • Development of a database of agricultural machinery manufacturers and suppliers.
  • Selection of appropriate machinery and equipment for specific farming operations.

Study in detail about zero-budget natural farming!

Eligibility for SMAM Scheme

Here are the eligibility criteria for the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme:

  • The applicant must be a farmer. The following categories of farmers are eligible for SMAM:
    • Farmers with landholdings of up to 2 hectares.
    • Female farmers, who are the heads of their households.
    • Farmers who belong to a Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or Other Backward Class.
  • The applicant's annual income must not exceed ₹2 lakhs.
  • The applicant's name must be registered on the ration card.
  • The applicant must have an Aadhaar card.
  • The applicant must belong to an SC/ST/OBC category.

Study in detail about Vertical Farming!

Advantages of SMAM

The SMAM scheme has many advantages, including:

  • The SMAM scheme provides farmers with access to modern agricultural machinery and equipment. This can help them to increase their productivity.
  • Agricultural machinery can help farmers reduce their labor costs by automating tasks such as:
    • plowing, 
    • sowing, 
    • harvesting, and 
    • threshing.
  • Modern agricultural machinery can help farmers to produce higher-quality agricultural products. This is by reducing crop damage and increasing the efficiency of post-harvest handling.
  • Some agricultural machinery and equipment can help farmers to reduce their environmental impact. This is by reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
  • By increasing their productivity and reducing their costs, the SMAM scheme can help farmers to increase their income.

Study in detail about the Government Scheme MGNREGA here!

Disadvantages of SMAM 

While there are several advantages of submission on agricultural mechanization, there are also some potential disadvantages that should be considered:

  • Purchasing agricultural machinery can be expensive. This can be a challenge for small-scale farmers with limited financial resources.
  • Reliance on technology can lead to breakdowns, power outages, and technical problems. This can cause delays and disruptions in farming operations.
  • Some farmers may not have access to modern agricultural machinery. This may limit their ability to adopt mechanization practices.
  • Operating and maintaining modern machinery requires specialized skills and training. Small-scale farmers may lack this.
  • The use of heavy machinery can have negative environmental effects. This includes soil compaction, erosion, and water pollution. It's important to manage these impacts for sustainable agricultural practices.

Study in detail about Farm Forestry!

Other Initiatives related to SMAM

Other related initiatives in the context of SMAM include:

Farm Machinery Banks 

FMBs provide farmers with access to agricultural machinery and equipment on a rental basis. FMBs are typically established by state governments or farmer cooperatives.

Custom Hiring Centers (CHCs)

CHCs are similar to FMBs. They also provide farmers with access to a range of other services. This includes training on how to use agricultural machinery and equipment. CHCs are typically established by private entrepreneurs or farmer cooperatives.

Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Associations

AMMAs represent the interests of manufacturers of agricultural machinery and equipment. AMMAs work with the government to promote the use of agricultural machinery and equipment in India.

Agricultural Research Institutions

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) plays an important role in developing new agricultural machinery and equipment. ICAR also works with farmers and manufacturers to promote the adoption of new technologies.

Study in detail about No-Till Farming!

Conclusion

The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) scheme in India is an effective government initiative that promotes agricultural productivity. It provides financial support to farmers for the acquisition of advanced farm machinery and equipment. By embracing mechanization, farmers can increase their efficiency and reduce labor costs. The scheme encourages the adoption of new technologies, leading to sustainable agricultural development. Overall, the SMAM scheme has significantly transformed the agricultural sector, improving the lives of farmers and ensuring a prosperous future for them.

Testbook provides a set of comprehensive notes for different competitive exams. Testbook is always on the top of the list because of its best quality assured products like live tests, mocks, content pages, current affairs, and much more. To study more topics for UPSC, Download the Testbook App now.

More Articles for IAS Preparation

Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization - FAQs

SMAM is a scheme launched by the Government of India in 2014 to promote agricultural mechanization and increase productivity in the farming sector

Farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and entrepreneurs engaged in agricultural mechanization are eligible for availing benefits under SMAM.

Farmers and FPOs can avail the benefits under SMAM by approaching the designated nodal agency or department of their state government and submitting the necessary documents and application forms.

SMAM has led to a significant increase in the availability and adoption of agricultural machinery and equipment in India. It has also helped in reducing the drudgery of farm operations and increasing the productivity of the agricultural sector

SMAM is a centrally sponsored scheme with a funding pattern of 60:40 between the central and state governments, respectively. In the case of northeastern states, the funding pattern is 90:10.

Farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and entrepreneurs engaged in agriculture and allied sectors are eligible for the SMAM scheme.

Report An Error