While the use of farm machines in the country is substantial, it is insufficient for the overall need of rapid agricultural mechanisation.

According to Economic Survey, the per hectare horse power availability is 0.90 against the required power of 1.4 Hp. This is an important reason for low productivity and low incomes for growers.

While the government is providing tractors at a subsidised rate of Rs200,000 per unit, all farmers do not require tractors. And provision of tractors alone to enhance farm power is not as effective as it ought to be.

Modern tools are as essential for small landholdings as for medium and large farms, but required power capacity or demand for size of machines varies for different farms. Because of a smaller cultivation area, high initial running and maintenance cost, along with rising diesel prices, small growers cannot afford large, costly tractors.

They need small size, low cost, low power and less fuel consuming machines like mini tillers, hand push or electric/gasoline spray machines, mini farm seeder and small fertiliser distributors to prepare land, fertilisation, seeding and pesticide spraying.

These machines are simple, easy to operate and cheap. Not only can small farmers afford these machines, but more can benefit from the same amount of government subsidy.

Similarly, different farmers would need different amounts of subsidies. For example, a mini tiller is suitable for both two- and five-acre farms but due to financial constraints, a two-acre cultivator may need more subsidy than a five-acre cultivator.

Hence, instead of constant, a divergent subsidy pattern is required to provide machines to different categories of landholders.

Farmers can be categorised into three groups, i.e., farmers with up to six-acre holdings (first group), seven to 15 acres (second group) and 15 to 25 acres (third group). Mini machines can be provided to first group and tractors to second and third group farmers. Different categories of growers will be eligible for different amounts of subsidy. However, tractors can be provided with constant subsidies under the ongoing scheme.

Small farmers cannot pay principal amount for subsidised tractors but it will be easier for them to purchase low cost mini machines. A mini tiller which small farmers can use to prepare land is much cheaper.

While fixing subsidies, the bulk amount should be allocated for small farmers as they form the majority of farming community.