AICRP Scheme/Unit : AICRP on Farm Implements and Machinery
Location: Zonal Agricultural Research Station, V.C. Farm, Mandya
Year of Start: November-2015

Mandates :
To identify the mechanization gaps and future needs of improved farm equipment and machines for different agro-climatic regions, crops and operations and to conduct feasibility testing, frontline demonstration and promote custom hiring of farm equipment and machinery to bridge identified mechanization gaps.

Objectives :

• To identify the mechanization gaps and future needs of improved farm equipment and on the basis of prevailing agro-socio-economic factors for different agro-climatic regions.
• To conduct feasibility testing on farmers field of prototypes of proven design of farm implements and machinery, selected from different regions for adoption under local conditions with a view to bridge the identified mechanization gaps.
• To conduct front line demonstration of proven designs to prove their efficacy, obtain feedback for design refinement and commercialization.
• To train rural youth and entrepreneurs in custom hiring service of improved farm implements machinery.

Research Programmes :

• Mechanization studies to identify crops and operations from which improved machines are required;
• Identification of designs of farm implements and machinery which can be adopted to fill the identified mechanization gaps;
• Procurement and feasibility testing of identified equipment on farmer’s field and their adaption under local agro-climatic conditions;
• Popularization of adapted farm implements and machinery among farmers and promoting their manufacturing by involving local manufacturers. Collection of feedback from farmers for design refinement of the selected farm equipment.
• Establishment of rural based service centers for distribution, repairs and maintenance and custom hiring service of improved farm implements and machinery by training rural unemployed youth

Facilities Available :

Multi Crop Planter, Paddy straw baler, Multi crop Thresher, TNAU 2 row power weeder, Coconut frond shredder, Back-pack type paddy harvester, IISR sugarcane cutter planter, Reaper binder, Sugarcane thrash shredder, Sugarcane seedling transplanter, Paddy reaper, Rotary weeder, Minor millet planter, Hand operated post hole digger and Power operated post hole digger, manual weeders, millet dehuller, dhal mill, reaper, ratoon manager, sub soiler

Other Activities :

• Conducting prototype feasibility testing of improved and proven farm implements and machinery
• Conducting front line demonstrations of improved and commercially available farm implements and machinery at farmers field