Government Increased Subsidies on Smartphones, Tractors & Natural Farming to Benefit Lakhs of Farmers

Gujarat Agriculture Minister Raghavji Patel listed a few major measures taken by his ministry since the establishment of the new government, during a news conference in Gandhinagar. According to sources, the media briefing was part of the BJP government's effort to boost public trust ahead of the upcoming assembly elections later this year. Earlier this month, the state government led by Bhupendra Patel completed 121 days in office. 

Government Increased Subsidy for Farmers to Buy Smartphones

According to the minister, the government has increased the subsidy for farmers purchasing smartphones (costing Rs 15,000 or less) to 40% of the product's cost, or Rs 6,000. Previously, the subsidy was 10% of the purchase price or Rs 1,500, whichever was lower. According to the minister, a total of 12,421 farmers applied for this aid via the i-Khedut portal till January 17, 2022.

Financial Assistance to Buy Tractor Has Increased  

The government of Bhupendra Patel, who took over as chief minister from Vijay Rupani in September 2021, has increased the financial aid granted to farmers for tractor purchases. The subsidy for buying tractors with 60 horsepower or less has been increased to Rs 60,000-75,000, or 25% of the tractor's cost.

Facilities for Crop-storage In Farm Has Been Doubled

Similarly, farmers' support for building crop-storage facilities on their farms has been quadrupled to Rs 1 lakh, or half the cost of the project.

According to Raghavji Patel, the government has provided assistance to farmers who have lost crops due to excessive rainfall. In the first phase, he added, the government has announced a Rs 547-crore relief package for farmers in four districts: Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, and Rajkot. "The government has paid out Rs 442.31 crore to 2.21 lakh farmers so far," the minister said.

In the second phase, farmers in nine districts – Ahmedabad, Amreli, Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Botad, Chotta Udepur, Junagadh, Panchmahal, and Vadodara — were given a Rs 531-crore package. 96,000 farmers in these nine districts have received Rs 99.08 crore thus far.

"During the Kharif season of 2021, the state government purchased 80,762 metric tonnes of groundnut and other pulses from 42,818 farmers at the minimum support price (MSP)." "Until January 17, 2022, a total of Rs 448.3 crore has been paid to farmers," Raghavji Patel added. The state government also emphasized the Union government's financial assistance to Gujarat farmers. 

According to the minister, Rs 1,149 crore has been deposited directly to the bank accounts of 57.48 lakh families under the PM Kisan scheme's tenth instalment.

Government Agreed To Set-up Rs 100 Crore Fund For Natural Farming

The state government has also agreed to set up a Rs 100-crore fund for natural farming producers. Over 48,053 farmers have requested for government assistance to build fences to protect crops from wild animals using the i-Khedut platform.

The remaining 21,167 farmers or farmer groups will be selected through a random draw. During the 121-day period, 13 newly developed mobile animal dispensaries and 94 health camps hosted by the minister assisted in the treatment of 35,594 animals, benefiting 6,498 livestock farmers.