Agricultural Mechanization
The Punjab Government, through its Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, is providing subsidies for agricultural machinery under the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization SMAM scheme. Farmers interested in benefiting from this scheme are required to apply online. A total of ₹21 crore in subsidies will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced that the scheme will offer a 40% subsidy on the purchase of eligible machinery for individual farmers, farmer groups, cooperative societies, panchayats, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Scheduled Castes (SC) and marginal farmers will be eligible for a 50% subsidy.
Subsidy Details Under the SMAM Scheme:
The Punjab Government will allocate ₹21 crore in subsidies directly to farmers’ bank accounts via DBT under the SMAM scheme. Minister Khudian stated that farmers can apply for this scheme until August 13. The subsidy covers various types of machinery, including pneumatic planters, potato planters (both automatic and semi-automatic), potato diggers, paddy transplanters, and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) seed drills. The minister has instructed department officials to ensure complete transparency throughout the process.
Benefits for Farmers:
Minister Khudian emphasized that adopting these machines will enable farmers to increase their income and enhance agricultural efficiency. The scheme also aims to promote water-saving technologies, crop diversification, and support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) within the agricultural sector. Farmers are encouraged to apply through the online portal for more detailed information.
Application Process: Beneficiaries can apply for the scheme through the department’s portal at (http://agrimachinerypb.com) by August 13, 2024. Subsidies are available for the purchase of various machinery, including pneumatic planters, potato planters, potato diggers, paddy transplanters, DSR seed drills, tractor-operated boom sprayers, PTO-operated bund formers, oil mills, mini processing plants, nursery seeders, and forage harvesters.
