Impact of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) on Adoption of Farm Mechanization in Madhya Pradesh

The impact of National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has been studied on the use of farm mechanization in cultivation of wheat in Madhya Pradesh through a primary survey of 300 farmers — 150 each from the districts of Harda (highest production) am Balaghat (lowest production) — with data collection for the agricultural year 2013–14. The study has revealed that major sources of information about NFSM for the beneficiaries were Agriculture Department, TV/radio, farmers/friends and newspapers. The study has shown a positive impact of NFSM on wheat cultivation under study. In the NFSM, government provides subsidy for purchase of farm equipments to increase productivity of crop. An individual household receives 32 per cent (seed drill) to 87.5 per cent (Knap Sack Sprayers) subsidy in NFSM. The impact of their farm equipment has been found to be positive as on average household shared 500 (cono weeder) to 6955 (seed drill) per year as imputed value of their farm equipment. The area covered per household by these equipments was found to be maximum in case of rotavator. The use of farm-equipment has provided beneifts like saving of water, good plant growth, reduction in cost of cultivation, control of weeds, timely operations and solving the problem of labour shortage. All the NFSM households have reported that cono weeder is useful in case of labour shortage.