In a major pro-farmers initiative, the Punjab Government has launched a special scheme to release direct subsidy to the farmers for the purchase of agricultural and horticultural implements from any empanelled firm of their choice. The decision was taken by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on the basis of a detailed proposal submitted by Punjab State Farmers’ Commission chairman after having marathon discussions with the experts of Punjab Agriculture University, ludhiana. As per the proposal, the farmers are allowed to avail subsidy of 50 per cent on a list of 61 approved agricultural and horticultural implements under various schemes for the current fiscal 2014-15. The decision would also enable farmers to negotiate price with the supplier of his choice and avail subsidy accordingly, helping in stabilisation of prices of subsidised equipment in the market besides giving a fillip to the farm mechanisation and effective management and disposal of crop residues in order to save the environment from pollution.