AGRICULTURE ENGINEERING ACTIVITIES 

IN CHHATTISGARH

          Mechanisation plays very important role in the field of Agriculture. The timeliness of operation with an ease and economy are the important parameters for increased production. Intensive cultivation is only possible by using the farm -Machineries.

          Only the use of improved Agricultural equipments can increase the production by 15-20 percent. The available power for Agricultural works is only     0.60 kw/hectare, where as the National average is 1.35 kw/hectare.

          More than 50 % of the power in the state of Chhattisgarh comes from animals; Mechanization needs to be increased immediately, looking to the crop diversification & multicropping  programmes of the state.

          There is one tractor on average of 225 Hectare land in Chhattisgarh, where as the National average is 180 Hectare/tractor. In Punjab it is 17 Hectare/tractor, 23 hectare/tractor in Hariyana and 60 Hectare /tractor in U.P. Minimum average increase of 6000 tractors per year is needed for next 5 years.

          Department of Agriculture-Engineering Provides custom-hiring facilities to the cultivators on reasonable rates, as the small & marginal farmers can not afford to purchase the costly machines   like tractors/ Bull - dozers and the new equipments.

2.       Shakambhri scheme has been started in the year 2005-06 under which 75% subsidy is given on Diesel/elec. pump sets (Upto 5HP) and 50% on dugwell.

3.       Live Demonstrations of improved implements/ machinery for popularization of the implements amongst the farmers.

4.          Popularization of mechanization is an important issue on G.O.I. level and number of different Crop wise Schemes for popularizing improved Bullock/Tractor drawn implements, Power tiller, tractors and hand tools etc under subsidy are being implemented in the State.

Financial arrangements along with the Management for supply of implements/machines from Govt./Semi Govt. organisation through the district offices (DDAs) to the farmers is being taken up.

5.       Fabrication of improved Bullock drawn implements and hand tools in the Agricultural Engineering workshops to meet out the state demand under subsidy schemes.

6.       Training Programmes on selection, operation and Maintenance of agricultural machinery/ implements to the farmers as per Central Sector Scheme.

7.     A new scheme on distribution of low-lift pump is sanctioned will start in the financial year 2006-07 with a subsidy of 75% for small & marginal farmers of the state in which 25% subsidy will be given by GOI under Macro-Management work Plan and 50% subsidy share will be borne by state Govt.

For the implementation of these programmes there are three Agricultural Engineering workshops and Agri. machine stations at Raipur, Bilaspur & Jagdalpur along with three Tractor units at Kondagaon, Raigarh and Ambikapur. Three new Asstt. Agril. Engineer offices at Kanker, Ambikapur and Raigarh will start working in the financial year 2006-07.

Following Staff has been sanctioned for these activities :-