Help small farmers, govt directs owners of straw mgmt machines
To minimise the stubble burning incidents, the district administration has made it mandatory for all those who have taken the agricultural machines on subsidy to help small farmers in managing stubble and sowing the seed.
Cooperate or face action
If the owners of subsidised agricultural machines refused to provide these on rent, they would be issued a notice. Also, the subsidy, along with interest, would be recovered from such farmers. Ojasvi, Faridkot ADC
Additional Deputy Commissioner Ojasvi said the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department had provided 6,200 machines to farmers on subsidy in the last five years and these included 2410 Super Seeder, 563 Happy Seeder, 380 Surface Seeder 38 and 105 Baler.
He said farmers could use these machines for managing paddy stubble and sowing of wheat in their fields by taking these machines on rent from cooperative societies, panchayats and private groups at low rates. He said if the owners of these subsidised machines refused to provide these on rent, they would be issued a notice. Also, the subsidy, along with interest, would be recovered from such farmers, he added.
“We have already uploaded the village-wise list of agricultural machinery in the district on a website. It has been made mandatory to install Super SMS on the combine harvester in Faridkot district so that there is no problem in the management of stubble, “ he said.
Faridkot Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Amrik Singh said some owners of super seeders ask farmers to set stubble on fire before sowing wheat on rent so that the diesel consumption could be be reduced. He warned such farmers of strict action, including withdrawal of subsidy.
The state government generally provides a subsidy of 50 per cent to individual farmers and 80 per cent subsidy to hiring centres and panchayat groups for these machines.
