Farm mechanisation will reduce input cost

Health Minister Dr Laxma Reddy distributes 64 units of agri equipments to farmers

Mahbubnagar: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Laxma Reddy distributed agriculture equipments like tractors and rotovators to farmers on Friday at Boys Junior college ground in Mahbubnagar. As part of Normal State Subsidy Plan (NSSP), the State government distributed 64 units, while 84 units were distributed under Rastriya Krishi Yojana scheme in the State.

Speaking on the occasion, Laxma Reddy directed the agriculture officers to create more awareness among the farmers about the changes and new advancements that were coming in the agriculture sector. “Mechanisation of farming will reduce the hard labour and with less input costs, the farmer can yield better output with higher gain. Here the role of agriculture officers is important as they need to create more awareness about the advancements to the farmer and encourage them to take up mechanisation process at a faster pace,” opined the Minister.

Enumerating the government’s efforts to improve agriculture sector in the district, the Minister said that the government was providing drip and poly houses at 90 per cent subsidy to general public and 100 per cent subsidy to the SC/ST communities. Similarly the government was also implementing various schemes to farmers where they can avail equipments and other machinery at 50 per cent subsidy, he added.

In the next two years, the Health Minister said, the PRRLI project would be completed and irrigate the entire district making it a green belt. For the benefit of farmers, the government has sanctioned one agriculture godown in each mandal and most of them are at various stages of completion.

Dr T K Sridevi, said mechanisation of agriculture would improve the farming sector at a faster pace. It would also provide employment to beneficiaries of tractors and improve their economic conditions. Local MLA Srinivas Goud praised the government’s initiatives to improve the farming sector in the district. He said very soon the farmers would get nine-hour free power from April this year.

Balu Naik, Deputy Director of Agriculture department said that they were implementing the farm mechanisation scheme through various customised centres of Paddy, Maze, Groundnut, Cotton etc. across the district. Earlier on Thursday, Minister Laxma Reddy, visited Balanagar and Nawabpeta mandals and took part in various foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction and upgradation of 60-bedded Primary Healthcare Centre in Balanagar and a bridge between Karur and Chenna Velli.

Similarly, he also laid foundation stone to Dwakra building at Karur Village. On the occasion, the Minister said, “The State government is giving highest priority to healthcare in the district. As part of this, we have released funds for improving healthcare infrastructure and sanitation in the district.”