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The Bihar government offers 40%-80% subsidies on agricultural equipment, aiding farmers in boosting productivity during the Kharif season.
The Bihar state government has launched a significant initiative to assist farmers during the crucial Kharif crop sowing season. Understanding the importance of modern agricultural machinery, the government is offering substantial subsidies on various equipment like harrows, cultivators, and more. This move aims to enhance farm productivity and efficiency, allowing farmers to complete their agricultural tasks on time.
With the onset of the monsoon rains, the sowing of Kharif crops has begun in earnest. To support farmers during this vital period, the state government is offering substantial subsidies on various agricultural machinery, including harrows and cultivators. Farmers interested in purchasing these subsidized equipment can apply online.
Under the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme, farmers can avail themselves of subsidies ranging from 40% to 80% on a wide range of agricultural equipment. This includes machinery for residue management such as straw reapers, super seeders, happy seeders, reaper cum binders, straw balers, and brush cutters. Small and marginal farmers can benefit from an 80% discount on kits containing essential tools like sickles, hoes, spades, weeders, and table seeders.
The scheme provides varying subsidies for different types of equipment. For residue management tools, the subsidy ranges from 40% to 80%. This generous support aims to make advanced farming tools more accessible to all farmers, ensuring they can adopt better farming practices and improve their crop yields.
To ensure fair distribution of subsidized machinery, Agriculture Minister Mangal Pandey has initiated an online lottery system. This process ensures transparency and equal opportunity for all applicants. Additionally, agricultural mechanization fairs will be held across all district headquarters from June 26 to July 5, 2024. These fairs will educate farmers about the scheme and provide hands-on demonstrations of the available equipment.
In the financial year 2024-25, Bihar has allocated Rs 82.25 crore through its Agricultural Mechanization State Scheme. Additionally, the Central Government has approved Rs 104.16 crore under the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM). Farmers interested in applying can do so through the Official Farmers Mechanization Application System (OFMAS) portal. Applications are accepted online, ensuring transparency and accessibility.
Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal, Secretary of the Bihar Agriculture Department, highlighted that the primary goal of the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme is to provide farmers with advanced machinery at subsidized rates. This initiative ensures that farmers can perform agricultural tasks efficiently and on time. Since the application's inception in April, 77,867 applications have been received as of May 31, 2024. Permits are being issued through a lottery system, aligned with district-wise physical and financial targets.
Secretary of the Agriculture Department, Sanjay Kumar Aggarwal, emphasized that each district will host an agricultural mechanization fair from June 26 to July 5, 2024. These fairs will provide a platform for farmers to interact directly with scheme officials, learn about available equipment, and understand the subsidies. The government is also establishing agricultural equipment banks at the panchayat level to further support farming communities.
The Bihar government has initiated the Agricultural Mechanization Scheme to provide farmers with affordable agricultural machinery. This scheme offers 75 types of machinery at subsidies ranging from 40% to 80%. The state and central governments collaborate to ensure farmers have access to necessary equipment, enhancing their productivity and efficiency.
Farmers can apply for the subsidy through the OFMAS portal on the State Farmers Direct Benefit Transfer website: (https://dbtagriculture.bihar.gov.in/). Detailed information about the scheme, including the list of subsidized equipment and application guidelines, is available on the official website.
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The Agricultural Mechanization Scheme is a crucial step toward empowering Bihar's farming community with modern tools and techniques. By subsidizing essential equipment, the government aims to boost agricultural output and help farmers achieve timely and efficient crop cultivation. For more information and assistance, farmers are encouraged to contact their nearest agriculture department office.