CM to distribute farm machinery worth Rs 361.29 crore under YSR Yantra Seva Pathakam

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy would distribute tractors, harvesters and other agricultural equipment to farmers under the Dr YSR Yantra Seva Pathakam scheme in Guntur on Friday. He would also address a public meeting there.

Under the scheme, the government is providing a 40 per cent subsidy and loans amounting to 50 per cent of the machinery cost while the remaining 10 per cent can be paid by the farmer's group.

The Chief Minister would distribute 2,562 tractors, 100 combined harvesters and 13,573 other farm equipment, costing Rs 361.29 crore to the beneficiary farmers. He would deposit the subsidy amount of Rs 125.48 crore directly into the accounts of farmers’ groups in Guntur, as part of the second-state-level mega distribution programme.

Officials said that with a commitment to increase farmers' income by reducing the cost of cultivation through mechanisation and to set up at least one Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) at RBK level, the YSRC government is providing farm machinery to farmers’ groups.

This would be facilitated by payment of 10 per cent of the cost of the machinery by the farmer group, 40 per cent of the amount coming as subsidy from the state government and the remaining 50 per cent as loan. “So, they can avail farm machinery services at affordable prices. Other farmers in RBK will also get benefitted by the low hiring charges.”

In the first mega distribution programme, 3800 tractors, 391 combined harvesters and 22,580 other farm machinery worth Rs 690.87 crores had been made available in 6525 RBK level and 391 cluster level Custom Hiring Centres with a subsidy of Rs 240.67 crore.

With the release of farm machinery worth Rs 361.29 crore on Friday, the Jagan-led state government has distributed 6362 tractors, 491 combined harvesters and 36,153 other farm machinery worth Rs 1052.16 crore. These would help 10,444 RBK level Custom Hiring Centres and 491 Cluster level Custom Hiring Centres. A subsidy of Rs 366.15 crore is provided to the farmer groups.

Agriculture minister Govardhan Reddy said the YSRC government has established 10,444 RBK level Custom Hiring Centres with Rs 15 lakh worth of machinery at each RBK and 491 Cluster level Custom Hiring Centre. This meant a distribution of machinery worth Rs 25 lakh to every cluster.

He said that from now on, there would be the YSR Yantra Seva Pathakam services in every RBK.

The minister said community hiring centres are maintained by farmer groups in their village itself. The decision-making vis-à-vis the selection of farm machinery, depending on the crop pattern of the village and local demand for hiring, rests with farmer groups.

Govardhan Reddy said the government released ‘YSR Yantra Seva App’ to help the farmers and ease the process of hiring the machinery and this App enables them to book their required farm equipment 15 days in advance.

A Kisan Drone Service with the use of latest technology is provided at every RBK and measures are being taken to provide sprayers and tarpaulins to marginal farmers with a 50 per cent subsidy.