Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, visited the ICAR-Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering (CIAE) in Bhopal today, where he engaged with scientists, students, and staff, and reviewed the institute’s ongoing technological developments aimed at empowering Indian farmers, particularly smallholders.
During the visit, the Minister lauded CIAE’s contributions to agricultural mechanization and emphasized the urgent need for region-specific, farmer-centric technologies. He urged the institute to proactively identify mechanization requirements across different agro-climatic zones using the network of All India Coordinated Research Projects (AICRPs) and formulate a 10-year strategic roadmap in line with the Viksit Bharat Abhiyan.
Calling for inclusive innovation, Shri Chouhan encouraged the development of small-engine and alternative energy-powered farm machinery, as well as sensor-based systems for precision agriculture. He also proposed organizing Farmer’s Fairs in different parts of the country and conducting brainstorming sessions with stakeholders to shape the future of agricultural mechanization.
A key highlight of the visit was the Minister’s review of the Tractor-Operated Plastic Mulch Layer-Cum-Planter, a recent innovation by ICAR-CIAE. This machine automates the labor-intensive tasks of raised bed forming, drip line and plastic mulch laying, and precision seed planting operations that typically consume 29 man-days per hectare.
The advanced equipment uses the tractor’s hydraulic system to operate a slider-crank planting mechanism and a pneumatic seed metering system, ensuring synchronized seed placement beneath the plastic mulch. With a field efficiency of 74% and the ability to cover 0.2 hectares per hour, the machine significantly boosts productivity while saving 26 man-days per hectare and reducing operational costs by 43% compared to conventional methods.
The operational cost is ₹1,500 per hour, with a payback period of 1.9 years, making it an economically viable solution for farmers growing high-value crops like melons, cucumber, sweet corn, baby corn, okra, beans, and green peas.
Shri Chouhan also emphasized the importance of food safety, soil health, and effective lab-to-land transfer of technologies, urging institutes like CIAE to ensure that research outcomes are accessible and actionable for farmers at the grassroots level.
The event was also attended by Dr. M.L. Jat, Secretary (DARE) and Director General, ICAR; Dr. S.N. Jha, Deputy Director General (Engineering); Dr. A.K. Nayak, DDG (Extension); Dr. C.R. Mehta, Director, ICAR-CIAE; and Dr. M. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal.
The visit underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural infrastructure and equipping farmers with advanced, cost-effective tools to drive India’s transformation into a technologically empowered agricultural economy.
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