Parliament Question: Level of low mechanization in agriculture

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. -834 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06/02/2026 LEVEL OF LOW MECHANIZATION IN AGRICULTURE 834. SHRI SAMIRUL ISLAM: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government has any data on the level of mechanisation in Indian agriculture; (b) if so, the details of mechanisation for major crops, operation-wise; and (c) the details of top ten countries with the highest level of mechanisation in agriculture? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR) (a) & (b): The adoption of mechanization by the farmers of various States depends on varying factors such as socio-economic conditions, geographical conditions, crops grown, irrigation facilities etc. Based on literature survey (2020-21), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) indicated that the agricultural mechanization level varies across different crops and their farm operation in the country. Overall, the operation-wise average mechanization levels across crops are 70% for seed-bed preparation, 40% for sowing/planting/transplanting, 32% for weeding and inter-culture, and 34% for harvesting and threshing, resulting in an overall average mechanization level of 47%. The crop wise and operation wise percentage level of mechanization in India is indicated in the table below: Crop Percentage level of agricultural mechanization Seed-bed Sowing/ Weeding and Harvesting Crop wise preparation planting/ interculture & and average transplanting plant protection threshing Rice 80 35 35 60 53 Wheat 85 65 50 75 69 Maize 70 45 40 30 46 Sorghum and 60 30 20 20 33 millets Pulses 65 40 25 35 41 Oilseed 65 40 20 30 39 Cotton 70 40 35 0 36 Sugarcane 65 25 30 20 35 Operation wise 70 40 32 34 47 average (c): The ICAR based on literature survey further indicated that, the United States currently with approximately 95% mechanization is a global leader in utilizing AI-driven autonomous tractors, drone surveillance, and large-scale precision farming machines. France, Canada, Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Brazil, Australia and Israel are some of the other countries utilizing advanced machines in agriculture and are having high level of agricultural mechanization. China has rapidly mechanized (over 70% in 2024– 2025) through massive investment in drones and smart machinery, particularly for wheat and rice farming. *****