AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

Contact address

Agricultural Machinery Research Centre
Agricultural Engineering College & Research Institute
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Coimbatore

Phone: 0422-6611204

I. Distribution and Introduction of agricultural machinery to the farmers through subsidy - AED

II. Introduction of rice transplanting machines – TNAU

III. Introduction of sugarcane harvesters – TNAU

IV. Introduction of aerial access hoist for the management of coconut harvesting - TNAU
A suitable hoist with field truck having infield stability, easy accessibility to reach coconut tree canopy for harvest management.
V. Introduction and popularization of pulse cultivation machinery – TNAU

VI. Capacity building for stakeholders on farm mechanization - TNAU

Guidelines for Implementation 
(Agricultural Mechanization)
I. AED Component:
1. Distribution of implements and machinery through incentive
Specification of Farm Machines
The specification of materials for the machinery or implements has to be decided by the Technical committee headed by the DEAN, AEC&RI and the following members

Identification of Manufacturer
The manufacture already registered under TNAU for the items listed by the TNAU can be taken.  For the new manufacture the list has to be approved by the above committee by making spot inspection on the manufactures industry and the facilities, machinery available and the manufacturing capacity should be taken into account.  The technical specification has to be decided by the committee which will be user friendly and easy for maintenance to the farming community.  The safety aspects should be given the top most priority for all machineries.
There are three components in the purchase, viz., conventional farm machines and the modern implements and farm. For the conventional items standard manufacturers are there, while for the other items only few manufacturers are available who can manufacture and supply based on the indent. In the case of transport trailer for the AED, the procurement can be done as per government procedure, since this is commercially available in the market.

Price Fixation
The committee shall fix the price based on the material cost, based on the number of units to be supplied by the firm including the quality of the machines produced.  The rate has to be approved by the committee by calling for the sealed tenders/quotations from the available manufactures as per government norms. Both the technical and price bid will be considered. The manufacturing capacity of the firm should be taken into account while deciding on the firm.  Otherwise number of firms may be approved based on the requirement.  The firm can also include the transport cost and to supply the finished product at the destination mentioned by the SE/EEs of AED. The manufacturing firm should have registration with sales tax department.

Identification of the Farmers 
There should be a block level committee comprising Asst. Engineers /Junior Engineers from AED, Agricultural officer from Agricultural Department, Horticulture officer from Horticulture Department.  The committee should identify the farmers who are willing to purchase and use the machinery.  They should collect the application and send to the concerned AEEs/EEs of the district for further processing along with relevant particulars such as chitta, adangal, SF/MF certificate.

Contribution from the Farmers
The contribution should be collected by AED official in the form of demand draft payable to the concerned manufacturer.

Placing the Indent
The indent for the machinery has to be placed by the concerned Superintending Engineers by getting the list of farmers who are willing to purchase the machinery or implement from the concerned Executive Engineers.  The contribution from the farmers should be ensured before making the indent.

Quality Check
While issuing the work order and approving the firm, the specification, quality of the material to be used for manufacturing the product should be strictly specified. A separate quality control unit formed by the technical committee may be formed for ensuring the quality product from the manufacture.  This unit will have to give clearance certificate for the products to ensure the quality before supplying to the farmers.

Procurement and Supply
The concerned Executive Engineers of AED will monitor the supply of the finished products from the firms to the farmers.  The supply order along with place of delivery should be clearly indicated by the Executive Engineers. The Executive Engineer is responsible for placing the indent. After the receipt of the implements and machines the demand drafts collected from the farmers may be paid to the firms. The subsidy will be released after ascertaining the functional performance.

Monitoring and Impact Assessment
A separate monitoring committee headed by Chief Engineer (AE) and Dean, AEC& RI, TNAU will monitor the supply of farm implements and machines from the firms. The officials of AED will collect the feedback from the farmers for compiling the report to be submitted to Government.

II. TNAU Components         
The following components are being implemented at TNAU. 

Procurement of equipments for TNAU Component 
For the procurement of various components in Sl.No 1- 4 the following technical committee headed by the Dean, AEC&RI, TNAU is formed with all the Heads in AEC&RI as members. In addition the Head, CIAE-Regional Centre, TNAU-Campus and another member from KAU, Kerala will serve as invited members.  
The tenders / quotations will be advertised as per TNAU purchase procedure and the technical and price bids will be scrutinized by the above committee and will be submitted to the University for approval and procurement.

Evaluation and Introduction of the Machines   (TNAU-Component):

1. The rice transplanters will be demonstrated by inviting the supplier and service agents at both in the University and in farmers’ fields.

2. The sugarcane harvesters will be demonstrated in the sugarcane fields in co-ordination with Commissioner of Sugar. In this connection a committee consisting of Professor & Head, AMRC and Chief Cane Development Officer has been constituted to visit and see the field functioning of the sugarcane harvesters at China and Thailand/Japan before importing. The field demonstration will be conducted by inviting the supplier / service agent.  

3. The aerial access hoist selection will be done as decided by the committee with defined specifications and the same will be procured and demonstrated in the University and farmers fields with the assistance of the service agent.

4. The set of implements identified for pulse production will the demonstrated both in the University farm and in the farmers fields. 

5. Training:

The officials for the training to the subject mater specialists in the Department of Agricultural Engineering will be communicated by the Chief Engineer (Agrl. Engg.).

Identification and selection of manufacturers, rural artisans, self help groups and farmers in different blocks for the training will be done by AED in consultation with Department of Agriculture.

AED will identify the farm machinery manufacturers for the training on the advances in production and quality maintenance in manufacturing of agricultural machines.

AED will identify and communicate the rural artisans for the training on the manufacturing techniques, repair and maintenance of agricultural implements and machines.

AED will communicate the farmers, unemployed youth, Self Help Groups, NGOs, etc for the training on the operation, repair and maintenance of farm implements and machines including custom hiring.