Centre raps some states for slow roll out of agri-mach scheme

The Centre today pulled up some states like Bihar for slow implementation of a scheme that promotes use of farm machineries among small and marginal farmers.
Successful implementation of the scheme on farm mechanisation by state governments will help raise farm output and double income of farmers by 2022, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said.
"The government has announced many agri-schemes and one is on farm mechanisation. The Centre has released Rs 118 crore to state governments to implement this scheme. Some states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are spending properly and there is good progress. However, in some states like Bihar, there is not much progress," Singh said at the launch of a coffee table book on farm mechanisation here.

The need of the hour is farm mechanisation, he said and expressed confidence that the laggard states would fast track implementation of the scheme in the coming months.
Stating that challenges of farm mechanisation still exist in India, the Minister said, "Most of our land holdings are small, therefore, commercial use is not proving beneficial. But the government is promoting farm machines through the establishment of custom hiring centres."
The costly farm machineries such as rotavator, blow sprayer, cotton cultivator, cutter and shredder are being made available on rent to farmers through these custom hiring centres, he said.