Key categories of agricultural sprayers
- Manual knapsack sprayers: 16-litre backpack units operated by hand-levers, economical for smallholdings and spot spraying.
- Battery-operated sprayers: 12V rechargeable diaphragm pumps delivering continuous, uniform pressure without manual pumping effort.
- Power sprayers (engine-driven): Portable 2-stroke or 4-stroke petrol engine pumps delivering high pressure for tall orchard trees and wide-reach hose lines.
- Tractor-mounted boom sprayers: 300 to 600 litre PTO-driven tanks with folding booms spanning 10 to 18 metres, ideal for large field crops like wheat and cotton.
- Electrostatic and air-assisted orchard sprayers: Fan-assisted sprayers that wrap charged droplets around dense fruit tree foliage.
Nozzle selection and sprayer calibration
Nozzle selection directly governs spray deposition: use hollow cone nozzles for systemic insecticides and fungicides, flat fan nozzles for soil-applied herbicides, and floodjet nozzles for high-volume drenching. Calibrate delivery volume (litres per minute) to ensure label-prescribed chemical doses are applied accurately.
Capital subsidies under SMAM
Eligible individual farmers, women farmers, and farmer producer groups can avail capital subsidies for purchasing tested sprayer machines under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). Applications are submitted online via the national agricultural machinery portal.
Official source
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Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
Which nozzle type is best for spraying insecticides?
Hollow cone nozzles are preferred because they produce fine atomized droplets that penetrate dense plant foliage thoroughly.
What is the benefit of a tractor-mounted boom sprayer?
It covers large crop acreages rapidly with uniform spray pressure, reducing labor requirements and ensuring timely pest control.
Where can farmers apply for subsidies on agricultural sprayers?
Farmers can apply online through the central SMAM portal (agrimachinery.nic.in) or their state agricultural engineering department.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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