Hamirpur/Una (HP), Oct 28 Farmers willing to purchase modern farming equipment at subsidised rates can apply until October 29 through a dedicated portal of the Himachal Pradesh agricultural department, officials said on Wednesday.
The portal, agrimachinery.nic.in, has been reopened for farmers until October 29 and beneficiaries will be selected through a draw of lots on October 30, said D D Sharma, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department in Hamirpur.
Sharma said that under the ‘Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization’ in Himachal Pradesh, newly developed tools and modern machinery are being introduced to promote the mechanization of hill farming.
The agriculture department is providing power tillers, power weeders, and various other agricultural implements to farmers on a large scale through this subsidy scheme.
Once online applications are received, the equipment is allocated to farmers through a transparent lottery-based system, he said.
These implements will be available to small and marginal farmers, as well as farmers from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and women farmers, with a 50 per cent subsidy, he added.
The deputy director urged farmers to purchase only approved equipment models from firms registered with the Government of India to avoid potential future difficulties.
The agriculture department is raising awareness among farmers to ensure a better yield for Rabi crops.
Agriculture Subject Matter Specialist in the Bangana subdivision of Una district, Satpal Dhiman, provided guidance to farmers on advanced Rabi cultivation practices and the optimal timing for wheat sowing.
He said that November 15 is a crucial date for wheat sowing, as planting at the right time significantly contributes to achieving a higher yield. Consequently, farmers should complete their sowing preparations well in advance.
He further said that, starting Thursday, the agriculture department is making seeds for wheat and other crops available at reasonable prices, allowing farmers to purchase what they need for the upcoming season.
The department’s initiative aims to educate farmers on advanced cultivation techniques, ultimately improving farming practices and increasing crop yields.
Farmers coming from various panchayats to purchase seeds clearly indicate they have begun preparations for the upcoming crop season, the agriculture officer said.
(PTI News)
