With the aim to promote farm mechanisation, a new scheme is being implemented by Telangana government to provide farm equipment at subsidised rates to farmers. The state government aims to double the farm mechanisation from the existing 45 percent to 90 percent in the state over the next three to four years to tackle the problem of farm laborers.
During question hours in the Assembly on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said a farm cluster-wise inventory is being prepared to identify the needs of farmers for every 5000 acres. Accordingly, the state government will supply the farm equipment under the scheme, such as harvesters, threshers, reapers, and winnowers, through custom hiring centres.
Farm mechanisation has become unavoidable due to a severe shortage of farm laborers. We foresee that it would be difficult to find workers to take up paddy transplantation after four years. That is the reason, the government is focusing on farm mechanisation and will announce the new scheme after finalising the modalities,” he said.
The Minister said the farm mechanisation will reduce the production cost for the farmers and save a lot of time, which in turn can ensure effective and timely involvement throughout the cultivation process. With the help of custom hiring centre, new employment avenues will open for rural youth. The state government spent Rs 951.28 crore for farm mechanisation over the last few years which benefitted 6.66 lakh farmers. The government has earned Rs 1500 crore for farm mechanisation by providing a 50 percent subsidy on farm equipment.
