Tamil Nadu Government Implements Changes in Agricultural Subsidy for Farmers
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, MRK Panneerselvam, has announced a change to the existing procedure to obtain small agricultural machinery under subsidy. Under the new system, farmers will now only be required to pay their contribution amount, as the subsidy amount will be deducted from the total cost of the machinery.
In a statement, Panneerselvam highlighted the government’s commitment to the agricultural mechanization program, which aims to increase agricultural production and the net income of farmers. The scheme also aims to address labor shortages in agriculture and ensure timely crop cultivation.
To subsidize small and marginal farmers in obtaining agricultural machinery, the government has set a target to provide 5,000 power tillers/power weeding tools to the village farmers under the Village Integrated Agricultural Development Program of Kartika. The beneficiaries are being registered online through the “Farmer App.”
Previously, subsidies for agricultural machinery were given retrospectively to farmers, resulting in delays in obtaining the full subsidy amount. Complicated procedures in banks also further hindered the process. Under the old system, farmers had to pay the interest amount along with the subsidy. This caused difficulties for small and marginal farmers in gathering the required amount for machinery and acted as a barrier for poorer farmers to access subsidies.
To address these challenges, the government has now modified the procedure. Farmers can now directly pay their contribution amount (total amount for the machinery minus the subsidy amount) to the agricultural machinery manufacturers, distributors, or agents. This change aims to ensure a more efficient and accessible subsidy system for farmers.
The revised Agricultural Mechanization Sub-Operational Scheme will benefit a large number of small and marginal farmers, ensuring equal access to agricultural machinery subsidies. The objective of agricultural mechanization, aimed at overall agricultural development, will be fulfilled without any disparities.
Under the scheme, individual farmers, including small, marginal, Adi Dravidian, tribal, and women farmers, will receive subsidies on the purchase of power tillers and other agricultural tools. The maximum subsidy for power tillers will be Rs.85,000, while power tillers and other farmers will receive a maximum subsidy of Rs.63,000. Additionally, power tiller purchases will be subsidized at 40 percent up to a maximum of Rs.70,000. The maximum subsidy for weeders will be Rs.50,000.
Furthermore, the state government provides an additional 20 percent subsidy from its funds to support small and marginal farmers belonging to Adi Dravidian and Tribal classes, reducing their contribution amounts. This additional subsidy amounts to a maximum of Rs.34,000 for power tillers.
To facilitate the purchase of power tillers and other agricultural machinery, farmers can pay their remaining contribution amount through online modes such as RTGS/NEFT or through drafts to the concerned companies, distributors, or agents.
Panneerselvam urged farmers to register their details online through the “Agricultural Engineering Department – Subsidy Schemes” section of the “Agriculture Machinery Hire” service to avail themselves of this subsidy opportunity and purchase power tillers or power weeders.
The changes implemented by the Tamil Nadu government aim to revolutionize the subsidy scheme for agricultural machinery, benefiting small and marginal farmers and promoting the overall development of the agricultural sector in the state.