1,094 farmers’ panels formed to buy agri machinery

1,094 groups of local farmers had been set up to run the agricultural machinery centres established at the Rythu Bharosa Kendras in the district by April, informed East Godavari Joint Collector G. Lakshmisha 

The State government, according to Agriculture Minister K. Kannababu, has framed a policy that provides agricultural machinery on rent to local farmers in order to reduce input costs.

Mr. Lakshmisha and other district officials met with agricultural machinery firms on Wednesday to ascertain the price, styles, and varieties of machinery needed for farming in different sizes of land holdings.

There have been 1,094 farmer committees formed, each with five farmers. The committees will be linked to RBKs and will be in charge of the agricultural machinery centres. According to Mr. Lakshmisha, the government would have a 40% subsidy and guarantee 50% of the loan obtained from banks by the committee to buy the required machinery.

Each committee is allowed to buy machinery worth up to Rs. 15 lakh and rent it out to needy farmers at a low cost. The software is expected to be launched in April by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

By March 25, we hope to have finalised the list of machinery to be made available in the 1,094 RBKs and completed the loan documentation process.

Farmers' committees have been encouraged to request cheaper rates from agricultural machinery selling firms.