New Delhi Dec 12 (KNN)  Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare  (DAC&FW) has recognised that the equipments and machines for small and marginal farmers and provide subsidy on such agricultural equipments helps in increasing agriculture production and productivity, improving utilization efficiency of costlier inputs such as seeds, fertilizers and irrigation water, besides reducing human drudgery & cost of cultivation.
 
The scheme of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization has been launched by the Department w.e.f. 2014-15 with the objective of  increasing the reach of farm mechanization to small and marginal farmers; Promoting ‘Custom Hiring Centres’, Creating hubs for hi-tech & high value farm equipments and creating awareness among farmers through demonstration and capacity building activities, an official release said.
 
(DAC&FW) provides Subsidy to farmers through State Governments under different schemes, such as Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM), National Food Security Mission (NFSM), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) for purchase of various agricultural equipments and machines. However, the Department scheme does not provide soft loans for purchasing agricultural implements.
 
During the year 2014-15 and 2015-16, the funds allocated/released to Government of Punjab for farm mechanization under different schemes is as under. (KNN Bureau)