The horticulture mechanization is almost at an infant stage in the country amid rising shortage of farm labourers. The government has revised norms to give financial assistance of up to 50% to farmers for buying post- harvesting and other equipments used for horticultural crops.
The financial assistance is being provided under a sub-mission, launched in 2014-15 fiscal, for promoting farm mechanization. A financial assistance up to 50% of the cost of the horticulture equipment will be given to women, small and marginal farmers, scheduled caste/ scheduled tribes and farmers belonging to north east.
A calculated shift to mechanization has become necessary with increasing agricultural labour shortage. The process of mechanization not only provides optimal utilization of factor resources but it also helps farmers to save valuable time and effort.