For straw management, Punjab government to give out over 25,000 agriculture devices

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1

With a view to making Punjab a ‘zero stubble burning state’, the Punjab Agriculture Department has initiated a drive to provide over 25,000 agro-machines/farm equipment to farmers for in situ management of paddy residue with subsidy component of Rs 250 crore during the current fiscal.

Director Agriculture Sukhdev Singh Sidhu said the department had sanctioned around 430 applications of cooperative societies and panchayats on a priority basis for balers and primary sowing machines.

In the first phase, sanction has been issued to 246 panchayats and 185 primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) at a subsidy of 80 per cent to establish farm machinery banks (FMBs) to be used as custom hiring centres. He said subsidy ranging from 50% to 80% was being offered to the farmers under the scheme with 80 per cent subsidy to cooperative societies and farmer groups and 50 per cent for individuals.

The machinery portal was being reopened from August 2-4 only for panchayats, cooperative societies and FPOs to give them one more opportunity to avail the benefit of the subsidised agri-equipment, said the Director.

The state government plans to deliver state-of-the-art machines to farmers, including super SMS, happy seeder, paddy straw chopper/shredder/mulcher, hydraulic reversible mould board plough and zero till drill machines.

Up to 80% subsidy for 430 applicants

• Agri Department has sanctioned 430 applications of cooperative societies and panchayats for balers and primary sowing machines
• In the first phase, 246 panchayats and 185 cooperative societies will get 80% subsidy to set up farm machinery banks to be used as custom hiring centres
• Under the scheme, cooperative societies and farmer groups will get 80% subsidy and individuals 50%