- Mechanisation Shortfall: India’s agriculture sector, crucial for over 140 crore people, remains under 50% mechanised, with an average mechanisation level of just 47% across major crops.
- Crop-Specific Mechanisation: While wheat and rice have higher mechanisation rates (69% and 53%, respectively), other crops like pulses, oilseeds, and millets lag significantly, with figures as low as 33%.
- Government Efforts and Challenges: The government aims to boost mechanisation through initiatives like the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation, but widespread adoption, especially for smallholders, may take another 25 years.
India’s Agriculture Sector Falls Short of 50% Mechanisation, Impacting Over 140 Crore
India’s agriculture sector, which sustains more than 140 crore people, has not yet reached 50% mechanisation. Recent data presented in Parliament revealed that the average mechanisation level across major crops stands at just 47%.
The breakdown of mechanisation by operation reveals significant gaps. Seed-bed preparation is the most mechanised process, with an average of 70% across crops. However, sowing, planting, and transplanting lag at 40%. Weeding and inter-culture are even lower at 32%, and harvesting and threshing stand at 34%.
Wheat and rice are the only crops that have surpassed the 50% mechanisation mark, achieving 69% and 53%, respectively. Maize follows at 46%, while pulses and oilseeds are at 41% and 39%. Cotton and sugarcane are at 36% and 35%, with sorghum and millets trailing at 33%.
Mechanisation of seed-bed preparation varies by crop, with wheat at 85% and sorghum and millets at 60%. Rice achieves 80%, maize and cotton 70%, and pulses, oilseeds, and sugarcane 65%.
Parliamentary responses attributed these variations to factors such as socio-economic conditions, geographical differences, crop types, and irrigation availability.
A report by a parliamentary standing committee, presented in July 2023, noted that India’s overall mechanisation level lags behind other developing nations. China, for example, has a mechanisation level of 59.5%, while Brazil stands at 75%.
The committee highlighted the benefits of mechanisation, noting that it can save farmers 15-20% on seeds and fertilisers, improve seed germination by 7–25%, and save 20–30% of farmers’ time.
With 86% of Indian farmers owning less than 2 hectares of land, the committee stressed the importance of developing machinery suitable for small holdings. Without appropriate equipment or farm amalgamation, small and marginal farmers find it challenging to invest in their machinery.
Government officials estimate it could take another 25 years to reach 75–80% mechanisation. The Department of Agricultural Research and Education stated, “It is expected that another 25 years are required to achieve the level of 75–80 percent mechanisation from the present level of 47 percent.”
In response to these challenges, the government launched the Submission on Agricultural Mechanisation in 2014–15. This initiative supports states in training farmers, demonstrating machinery, and assisting with equipment procurement. Custom hiring centres have also been established to make machinery more accessible to small farmers.
