The Most Important Small Scale Indian Farming Equipment & Tools - Top 8
India has many smallholder farms as around 86% of farmers have farmland less than two hectares. For these small and marginal farmers making the right investment in tools can greatly increase work productivity and profits while decreasing labor dependence. In this article we will discuss types of farm tools for Indian smallholder farms considering their price, efficiency and usefulness.
Reasons Why Mechanization Is Important for Small Farms
Owning mechanical farm equipment is one of the more modern essentials for smallholder farmers. The growing wages of rural workers coupled with the need for reliable food supply make it compulsory to use farm equipment. Government policies are increasingly providing support, for instance, through subsidies with the aim of rationalizing use of farm equipment within farming operations like SMAM: Subsidies on Agricultural Machinery.
Advantages of Agricultural Equipment:
- Cut labor costs and time.
- Boosts yield, crop consistency, and overall productivity.
- Allows for precise farming techniques.
- Reduces the probability of human error.
Top 8 - Most Important Small Scale Indian Farming Equipment
Highlighting the most important tools that small plot farmers will find most helpful:
Power Tiller
The Power Tiller ranks as one of the most affordable and versatile options suitable for small farmers. It aids soil preparation, plowing, weeding, and low level lifting work like transportation. Budgetary constraints or terrain makes these machines ideal for where tractors are not feasible. Government-subsidized models are offered from brands such as KAMCO and VST.
Mini Tractor
If this is within the budget, mini tractors are an improvement over the tillers. They have a horsepower of anywhere between 11 HP and 20 HP, and can handle tillage, sowing, and basic haulage tasks. Their small size makes them ideal for maneuvering through tight rows and small plots of land.
Seed Drill
Traditional sowing is incredibly wasteful and leads to uneven growth. Seed drills allow planting of seeds at uniform depth and spacing. With better germination, healthy crops, and less cost over the season provides significant benefits compared to traditional sowing methods.
Rotavator
Integrating planting and harvesting has proved useful especially at small scale farming operations. They are especially handy under inter cropping and multi cropping systems that are common among small scale farming.
Battery Operated Sprayers
The application of chemicals is tasking and can be dangerous. Personally operated battery sprayers or manual knapsack sprayers offer lightweight and inexpensive means of applying pesticides, micronutrients, and liquid fertilizers.
Other Machinery to Consider
These tools enhance sustainability, increase shelf life of produce, and support organic and climate-resilient farming practices.
Affordable Options and Subsidies
The government of India offers various subsidies under the SMAM scheme, PM-KISAN and state agriculture departments.
Here is how farmers can benefit:
- Power Tillers: Up to 40 - 60% subsidy for SC/ST/small farmers
- Mini Tractors: 20-50% subsidy depending on state norms.
- Custom Hiring Centres: Villages fund a pooled bank to hire machinery that can be set up easily.
- Check local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Agriculture Departments for assistance in real time.
Smart Buying Tips for Small Farmers
- Assess Your Farm Size And Crops: Not every single piece of machinery fits every use case. Identify the crops and land size.
- Start With Multi-Purpose Tools: The highest ROI comes from power tillers or multi-purpose mini tractors.
- Choose Reputable Brands: Small-farm solutions from Mahindra, VST, KAMCO, and John Deere are offered with warranty support.
- Prefer Subsidized Models: Ask for equipment linked to government subsidies from local dealers.
- Select Community Buying: Small farmer groups can pool funds together and buy as one.
New Expressions in the Mechanization of Small Scale Farming
Modern technology is now available to smallholder farmers:
- Solar-powered machinery: This type of machinery aids to cut down bovine their operational overhead.
- IoT-based irrigation pumps: These can be remotely activated by smartphone.
- Compact harvesters: These are suitable for small paddy/wheat fields.
To enhance the adoption of these innovations, companies are now providing EMI-based payment systems, lease-to-own arrangements, mobile servicing units and other solutions.
Also, Indian agricultural startups are developing new modular machinery with remote diagnostics. Farmers can be sent alerts and active troubleshooting options through mobile apps integrated with their machines. These sorts of advanced technologies are progressively changing the operations of small-scale farms.
Cooperatives and FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations) are already leading the charge in changing farmers’ mindsets regarding investment in new technologies by financing them, pooling money to buy farm machinery, and teaching them how to use the new technologies. These approaches are making expensive machinery accessible to thousands of rural farmers.
It is anticipated that a combination of conventional implements alongside smart technologies will take over the farm tools of small farms in India in the coming years.
Latest Changes Associated with Farm Mechanization
Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) in Punjab
Water conservation and lower labor cost have led to the endorsement of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique by the Punjab government. Even though the government provides incentives of ₹1,500 per acre, adoption has been slower than expected due to problems such as poor weed germination and early sprouting. The 2024 target of 5 lakh acres was not met as only 2.53 lakh acres were cultivated under DSR. Efforts are still being made to enhance the awareness to address these concerns.
Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) Scheme
The scheme still meets the needs of small and marginal farmers by providing them with financial aid to purchase agricultural equipment. Eligible farmers in 2025 will pay only 50% towards the subsidy provided on rotavators, threshers and cultivators. This scheme also supports the establishment of CHCs where machinery is provided on a rental basis.
The Introduction of Electric Machinery for Farming
In an attempt to improve eco-friendly and sustainable farming practices, the CSIR-CMERI has introduced electric tractors and tillers. Their benefit for small farmers is being highlighted through interactive and live sessions, as well as demonstrations across different cities of India.
Development Goals in Agricultural Mechanization
Goals of India’s Vision 2047
The mechanization goal for the year 2047 is set at 75%, compared to 47% at present. The strategy emphasizes the small and marginal farmers’ category, by trying to make available to them proper and cost-effective machinery. It is anticipated that this will increase productivity levels and lessen the hardships caused by manual farming chores.
Setting up Agricultural Machinery Banks
Uttarakhand and other states are trying to get central funding to set up farm machinery banks to enable farmers to hire the machines as per their requirements. The model is most effective for small farmers who cannot afford to buy costly machines due to limited financial resources.
Adoption of Modern Technologies
The use of drones and IoT-based irrigation systems has been increasing. These technologies enable real-time monitoring of crops, and allow for efficient farming and resource use. The government is also supporting the purchase and demonstration of such equipment under different schemes.
Keeping abreast with these changes and schemes provided by the government will help small Indian farmers and Indian farmers in general to make informed decisions regarding the adoption of appropriate farm equipment which will increase productivity and sustainability.
For the over 100 million small farmers in India, selecting the correct farm tools for small farms is not simply about mechanization. It is about earning a living and being prepared for the future. Correct tools ensure productivity and long-term sustainability. Based on these principles, begin small.