Punjab Government has launched a substantial Rs 21 crore subsidy scheme under the Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) to enhance farm mechanization across the state. The initiative will provide financial support to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), making advanced agricultural machinery more accessible.

Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian unveiled the scheme, which covers subsidies for a range of equipment, including Pneumatic Planters, Potato Planters, Potato Diggers, Paddy Transplanters, DSR Seed Drills, Rotavators, Tractor Operated Boom Sprayers, PTO Operated Bund Formers, Oil Mills, Mini Processing Plants, Nursery Seeders, and Forage Harvesters. Farmers can apply for these subsidies by logging onto the Department’s portal — agrimachinerypb.com — until August 13, 2024.

The scheme offers a 40 percent subsidy on machinery purchases for individual farmers, farmer groups, cooperative societies, Panchayats, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Additionally, individual SC farmers, women farmers, and small and marginal farmers will benefit from a higher subsidy of 50 percent.

The Minister emphasized the scheme’s potential to boost agricultural productivity, promote water-saving techniques, and support crop diversification. He urged the farmers to take advantage of the scheme, noting that mechanization can enhance income and support the growth of MSMEs in agriculture. The Minister also stressed the importance of transparency in the application and distribution processes, ensuring that the benefits reach the intended recipients.

Farmers seeking further details about the subsidy scheme are encouraged to visit their district Agriculture Offices. This move marks a significant step in Punjab’s effort to transform agriculture and improve the livelihoods of its farming community.