Government chips in 30 Crore the prosperous Punjab farmers

* 30.25 Cr subsidy provided to Farmers in 2014-15
* Machinery for mechanization of agriculture and crop diversification to boost production
* Thousands benefit from Government provisions

Chandigarh, Under various schemes and provisions meant to benefit farmers across Punjab, the government has invested heavily to provide agricultural machinery on subsidised rates to promote mechanization and modernization of agricultural practices to boost production. For the year 2014-15 itself, the Punjab Farmer has received benefits to the tune of over 30 Crores under the R.K.V.Y. schemes and the crop diversification program funded by the state government.

Disclosing here today, an official spokesperson said that considering factors of production and shortage of labour during peak sowing and harvesting seasons, the state has decided to mechanise the agriculture sector by providing necessary agriculture apparatus besides encouraging farmers to adopt latest technologies to maximise agriculture production in the state. Farmers have been provided with subsidies for a varied spectrum of machinery tools and aids such as Cotton Seed Drills, Planters, Vertical Conveyer Reaper, Sugarcane Ridger, Paddy Transplanter (Walk Behind), Paddy Transplanter (Self Propelled), Nursery Tray, Nursery Seeder, Hydraulic M.B.Plough on demand with a 50% subsidy offered on Laser Land Levellers, Rotavators, New Matic Planters, Sub Soiler, Rotary Plough, Power Weeder, Happy Seeder, Zero Till Drill, Tractor Operated Hydraulic Sprayer, Maize Combine Harvester, Maize Thrasher and Self Propelled Reaper Binder. To further the cause, the government has also empanelled manufacturers for providing machinery as per the technical specifications of the department and are tested by the institutions/agencies approved by the government.

For the year 2014-15, over 3235 farmers were given a subsidy of 21.62 Cr for agricultural machinery under the R.K.V.Y. scheme. For implements for crop diversification, an additional 8.63 Crore has been sanctioned by the government with 2462 beneficiaries in this year alone. In the year 2013-14, the government had invested 33.70 crores for the Crop Diversification Program with aid offered to 24828 farmers across the state and an additional 100 farmers receiving a 1 Cr. subsidy for Straw Reapers under the National Food Security Mission