Agri machinery portal goes live on July 18 in Himachal

In a major push towards modernising agriculture, the Himachal Pradesh Department of Agriculture is all set to launch the ‘Agri Machinery Portal’ on Friday. The initiative aims to promote mechanised and efficient farming practices across the state by enabling farmers to purchase essential agricultural equipment — such as tractors, power weeders, cultivators and more — at subsidised rates.

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The portal will operate on a first-come, first-served basis and promises full transparency in the disbursal process. Notably, 50% subsidy will be extended to small and marginal farmers, as well as those belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women farmers, making advanced machinery more accessible to the most vulnerable sections.

Speaking about the initiative, Dr Ravinder Singh Jasrotia, Director of the Department of Agriculture, emphasised the importance of modern machinery in improving efficiency, especially in hilly regions.

“Mechanisation significantly reduces labour dependency and operational costs while enhancing productivity and the quality of produce. Given Himachal’s small landholdings and uneven terrain, we are focusing on compact and advanced equipment tailored to local needs,” he said.

Dr Jasrotia said the scheme will be implemented under the Himachal Agricultural Engineering Sub-Mission. Farmers interested in availing of the subsidy must apply through the official Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal: http://agrimachinery.nic.in.

He also urged farmers to purchase only government-approved models from registered firms to ensure eligibility for subsidy and compliance with state guidelines.

Reaffirming the department’s commitment, Dr Jasrotia said, “We aim to make the most efficient and modern farming equipment available to every farmer in the state. This will reduce manual labour, improve sustainability and increase farm income in the long run.”