SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday approved a revised ₹13.76 crore farm mechanisation plan for Jammu and Kashmir for 2026-27, targeting the distribution of 2,113 agricultural machinery units and the establishment of 22 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) to improve access to modern equipment.
The plan was approved by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) component of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY).
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department, Ashish Chandra Verma, informed the meeting that ₹9.60 crore had been earmarked for the agriculture sector and ₹4.16 crore for horticulture. Of the agriculture allocation, ₹5.05 crore is earmarked for Kashmir Division and ₹4.55 crore for Jammu Division. The horticulture allocation includes ₹2.15 crore for Kashmir and ₹2.01 crore for Jammu.
The plan provides ₹11.16 crore for general-category farmers, ₹1.47 crore under the Tribal Sub-Plan and ₹1.12 crore under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan. An additional ₹1.19 crore has been earmarked for aspirational districts under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, including ₹92.45 lakh for Kishtwar and ₹26.17 lakh for Baramulla.
An allocation of ₹11.17 crore has been made for distributing agricultural machinery and modern equipment. The targets include 95 four-wheel-drive tractors costing ₹3.42 crore, 77 two-wheel-drive tractors worth ₹1.54 crore and 184 power tillers costing ₹1.84 crore.
The plan also provides for two combine harvesters, 10 reaper-cum-binders and two super seeders. In addition, 470 petrol, diesel and portable irrigation pumps of up to 15 horsepower will be provided at a cost of ₹47 lakh.
To improve access to costly machinery, 22 Custom Hiring Centres will be established with an allocation of ₹88 lakh, while 16 Farm Machinery Banks will be set up at a cost of ₹1.28 crore. The facilities are intended to allow farmers, particularly small and marginal landholders, to hire equipment instead of making large individual investments.
Ten agricultural drones will also be introduced through Custom Hiring Centres, including eight for the Agriculture Department in Jammu Division and two in Kashmir Division.
The horticulture sector will receive specialised equipment, including power-operated tools, brush cutters, walnut dehullers, aluminium pruning ladders and mist blowers to improve orchard management.
The revised plan has been rationalised to conform to financial ceilings prescribed by the Union government, with allocations intended to ensure regional coverage and support for farmers across different socio-economic categories.
Dulloo also stressed the need to strengthen irrigation alongside mechanisation, asking the Agriculture Production Department to focus on interventions under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, drip irrigation and Command Area Development to improve water-use efficiency and expand irrigation coverage.
The plan includes ₹30 lakh under flexi-funds and ₹13.50 lakh for administrative contingencies.
