Odisha Government Extends Substantial Agricultural Machinery Subsidies to Empower Farmers

The Odisha government, under the leadership of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain, has rolled out substantial subsidies ranging from 40% to 60% for approved agricultural machinery and equipment, with an impressive 75% subsidy earmarked for women's self-help groups.

This significant move was announced during the Farm Machineries Manufacturers Meet for “Krushi Yantrapati Mela-2023,” held at Krushi Bhawan in Odisha's capital.

Minister Swain emphasized the state government's commitment to providing financial support and credit facilities to farmers, ensuring the adoption of advanced agricultural machinery and equipment. These subsidies are being efficiently channeled through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme, simplifying the subsidy distribution process.

He added that, to further streamline this process, the SAFAL App (Simplified Application for Agricultural Loans) was launched in the 2022-23 fiscal year. Through this portal, farmers can conveniently apply for agricultural loans from banks and various lending institutions, facilitating the purchase of much-needed machinery and equipment.

In a testament to the government's dedication to enhancing agricultural practices, Swain revealed that in the past four years, from 2019-20 to 2022-23, a total of 1,70,296 pieces of agricultural machinery and equipment have been provided to Odisha's farmers, amounting to an impressive subsidy of Rs 1005.83 crores.

The minister also highlighted the importance of popularizing small-scale and women-friendly equipment, making agricultural tasks more accessible and efficient for all.

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Among the key machinery distributed are tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters, reapers, rotavators, rice transplanters, multi-grain axial flow threshers, power weeders, mini rice mills, rubber roll shellers, mini oil mills, Rice Puffing Machines, Rice flattening Machines, pulverizers, and more, catering to the diverse needs of the state's agricultural sector.

Looking ahead to the fiscal year 2023-24, the government has set an ambitious target to supply 70,000 units of farm machinery, with a subsidy provision of Rs 450 crore. Remarkably, as of September 5, 2023, a subsidy amounting to Rs 153 crore has already been disbursed for the supply of 24,953 units of farm machinery to the state's farmers. These efforts in farm mechanization have led to a substantial increase in farm power input, rising from 0.62 kilowatts per hectare in 2000-01 to 2.32 kilowatts per hectare in 2022-23, significantly boosting agricultural productivity.

Minister Swain expressed optimism regarding the active participation of manufacturers in these melas, where an ample inventory of machinery will be made available at reasonable prices for farmers. The move aims to benefit farmers across the state, ensuring they have access to the latest agricultural technologies that can reduce labor, enhance efficiency, and ultimately reduce cultivation costs.

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Building on the success and positive response of previous years, the government has extended the farm machinery mela to sub-division levels. These melas, scheduled between October and December 2023, are poised to provide farmers with opportunities to explore and acquire the latest technological advancements in agricultural machinery.

The Farm Machineries Manufacturers Meet garnered participation from a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including Prem Chandra Choudhary, Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Chief Engineer of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Department, senior officers, and a multitude of Farm Machine Manufacturers and dealers. This collective effort is poised to transform Odisha's agricultural landscape, promoting sustainability and prosperity in the farming community.

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