In a significant move towards advancing agricultural mechanization and supporting smallholder farmers, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, ShriShivraj Singh Chouhan, visited the ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) in Bhopal today. His visit underscored the government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening farmer-centric innovations and accelerating the development and dissemination of cutting-edge agricultural technologies.

Addressing a gathering of scientists, students, and staff members at the institute, Shri Chouhan lauded the ICAR-CIAE for its impactful contributions to India’s agricultural development. He particularly emphasized the urgency of making advanced, affordable, and accessible technologies available to farmers across all regions — with a special focus on small and marginal farmers.

During his address, Shri Chouhan outlined a visionary approach for the next ten years, aligning with the objectives of the Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. He called upon the institute to leverage its All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) network to assess regional needs and strategize targeted mechanization solutions tailored to those agro-climatic zones.

Key directives from the Minister included:

• Accelerating development of small engine-powered equipment and machinery operated by renewable or alternative energy sources.
• Promoting sensor-based smart systems for precision agriculture, enabling inclusive development for all classes of farmers.
• Hosting Farmers’ Fairs across diverse regions to demonstrate new technologies on-ground and foster farmer engagement.
• Organizing brainstorming sessions with key stakeholders — including scientists, industry leaders, farmer groups, and policymakers — to chart a roadmap for India’s agricultural mechanization future.

Beyond mechanization, Shri Chouhan reiterated the importance of food safety, soil health, and ensuring effective lab-to-land technology transfer. He encouraged a multidisciplinary approach to tackle challenges in productivity, environmental sustainability, and rural livelihoods through practical, scalable innovations.

The Minister also witnessed demonstrations of several newly developed technologies at the institute. One such remarkable innovation was the ICAR-CIAE tractor-operated plastic mulch layer-cum-planter, designed to mechanize a series of labor-intensive activities including raised bed formation, laying drip laterals and plastic mulch, and seed planting.

This equipment stands out for its efficiency, precision, and cost-effectiveness in sowing high-value crops under plastic mulch. Key features and benefits include:

• Automation of multiple tasks: Previously requiring about 29 man-days per hectare, the machine integrates operations into a seamless process using a hydraulic and pneumatic system driven by tractor PTO.
• Innovative mechanism: Utilizes an eccentric slider crank mechanism and pneumatic seed metering for synchronized seed placement under the plastic mulch.
• Efficiency metrics: Achieves a field capacity of 0.2 ha/h with 74% field efficiency at a speed of 1.7 km/h.
• Cost advantages: With an initial cost of ₹3 lakh and an operational cost of ₹1,500 per hour, the payback period is approximately 1.9 years with a break-even usage of 70 hours annually.
• Time and labor savings: Reduces manual labor by 89%, saving around ₹6,600 per hectare.
• Flexibility: Adjustable spacing allows it to plant various crops like melons, cucumber, baby corn, okra, beans, and more.

The event was graced by the presence of several senior officials from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):

• Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) & Director General, ICAR
• Dr. S.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Engineering)
• Dr. A.K. Nayak, Deputy Director General (Extension)
• Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE
• Dr. M. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal

Their participation reflected a strong institutional alignment towards achieving transformative agricultural goals through coordinated research, innovation, and extension.

Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s visit to ICAR-CIAE marks a renewed push for technologicalinnovation, mechanization, and regional adaptability in Indian agriculture — aimed squarely at creating a more prosperous, sustainable, and farmer-inclusive rural economy.