Farmers seeking assistance to buy farm machines and implements under the centrally-sponsored Agricultural Mechanisation Programme would get the subsidy credited into their bank accounts.
For the first time this year, the Agricultural Engineering Department is adopting the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system while implementing the scheme across the State.
Farmers can avail subsidy for purchase of various farm machines and implements such as tractors, power tillers, transplanters, balers, seeders, harvesters, rotavators, power weeders, bund formers, levellers, sprayers and other implements.
While small, marginal and women farmers and those belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities are extended 35 to 50% subsidy on the cost of the machines and implements, other farmers can avail 25 to 40% subsidy. A maximum subsidy of up to ₹2 lakhs would be provided for purchase of high technology machines.
Tiruchi district has been allotted ₹97.90 lakhs to be disbursed as subsidy to farmers for purchase of 169 machines and implements. This includes 37 tractors, 17 power tillers, one transplanter and 114 other types of machines and implements, Collector K.Rajamani said in a press release.
A senior official said introduction of the DBT system would eliminate any possible intervention by middle men, reduce the role of officials and ensure that the subsidy reached the targeted groups.
Farmers who wish to avail the subsidy under the scheme have to first register their names through the Uzhavan App. Once they provide necessary details including their Aadhaar numbers, their applications would be tagged to the Union government’s portal www.agrimachinery.nic.in
Once registered, applicants will be given user ID and password after which the farmer can upload relevant documents and other details.
They should indicate the machine or implement that they want to purchase and choose the dealer from whom they want to purchase the same.
The farmers are free to negotiate the price with the dealer and the subsidy would be calculated based on the purchase price of the machine.
The farmers would have to purchase the machine by paying the cost upfront by providing a Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the dealer concerned.
If the number of applicants was more than the number of machines sanctioned for a district, sanction will be given on seniority basis and those who have not got the sanction would be kept in a wait list. A farmer can purchase two farm machines or implements in a year with the subsidy. They can purchase the same machine or implement 10 years later under the scheme.
Only after the machine is purchased, the beneficiary will have to approach the Agricultural Engineering Department officials, who are required to inspect the machines and verify the documents provided by the applicant. Once inspected, the officer along with the beneficiary farmer and the machine would be required to upload a geo-tagged picture to the Union government portal. Besides, they would have to upload issue “the check slips” and their notes. Once inspection process is completed, the subsidy would be credited to bank account of the beneficiary.
The department would provide information and support to needy farmers on the entire process.
Those who require assistance can approach the offices of the Assistant Executive Engineers of the department in Tiruchi, Musiri and Lalgudi. Details about the process can be had from the Union government website, the officer said.
