Tractors to be distributed to farmers today

Khammam: District administration has decided to distribute tractors to beneficiaries on Friday here. Thus, the long wait for tractors by farmers since last year will come to and end. 

The district agricultural finally decided to distribute tractors and other farm equipment on Friday after postponing it several times. Initially the officials decided to distribute the equipment on February 17, but due to cancellation of tour programme by Ministers, the officials decided to arrange the programme on February 25, and then it was put off to March 2.

 The distribution programme of farm equipment and tractors will be held at Sardar Patel Stadium. Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao will participate and hand over equipment to the farmers.

The Yantra Lakshmi scheme, which is implemented by the State in association with the Centre, will provide 50 per cent subsidy to the farmers along with loan for purchasing of farm equipment and tractors.

 From the time of announcement of the scheme in 2016, many aspiring farmers applied for the tractors under Yantra Lakshmi scheme. The officials after scrutinising the applications released the list of about 748 beneficiaries on February 15, and out of which 578 are from  Khammam district and about 170 from Bhadradri Kothagudem districts. 

The coast of the tractors and equipment was put at Rs 32 crores. The District Agricultural officer Jhansi Lakshmi Kumari of Khammam district and Abhimanyudu of Bhadradri Kothagudem district ordered the Mandal Agriculture officers to convey the information to the beneficiaries to avail the opportunity by attending to the function on Friday.