Rural youth groups are all set to take modern machinery to agriculture across Vellore district.
Implements at subsidised cost
In a bid to encourage mechanisation in farming, the Agricultural Engineering Department has formed 40 rural youth groups, two in each of the 20 blocks in the district, and has started to provide modern farm implements and machinery at subsidised cost.
Through this, the youth groups can provide the machinery / implements for rent to farmers. The State government had allotted Rs. 410 lakh for the scheme for the district.
“Each group has a minimum of eight members and up to 10 to 12 members. We provide the groups with equipment at 80 per cent subsidy and also train them in the operation and maintenance of the machinery,” M.S. Inbanathan, executive engineer, Agricultural Engineering Department, Vellore.
Farm implements and machinery including tractors, cultivators, equipment used for de-weeding, sowing and seed drillers are provided to these groups.
The scheme took off on Monday with four rural youth groups receiving the machinery.
Agricultural equipment worth Rs. 40 lakh with subsidy of Rs. 32 lakh was given to four groups from Jolarpet (Jolarpet block), Balamathi (Vellore), Kaatupudur (Kaniyambadi) and Reddivalam (Nemili) villages, a press release said.
“All 40 groups will receive the equipment by March 31. The eligibility criteria for the members include age less than 35 years, belonging to a rural area and minimum educational qualification of class VIII,” he added.
Benefits
This initiative has many benefits as officials said it will solve the shortage of labourers for agriculture prevailing in the district and create jobs for at least 400 youth. “It will encourage use of modern equipment in agriculture,” R. Jayasundar, joint director of Agriculture, Vellore added.
Collector R. Nanthagopal distributed the farm implements to the group members.
