Telangana Government promoting farm mechanisation in a big way

​Hanamkonda: The State government has been promoting farm mechanisation in a big way, asserted Agriculture Minister P Srinivas Reddy.

He said the government has allocated Rs 300 crore towards subsidy of farm equipment and tractors. It was planned to distribute a total of 3,900 tractors and farm machinery. 100 per cent subsidy would be given to SC/ST farmers while others would be given 50 per cent subsidy.

At a programme organised at Warangal Rural district Collector's office in Hanamkonda, the Minister distributed tractors to few farmers of Parkal assembly constituency. All eligible farmers would be given tractors and the farmers should apply for tractors by March 31.

Later on the day, the Minister has participated in several programmes in Narsampet division in the district on day. Speaking on occasion, he said steps would be taken to set up Chilli Processing Unit and efforts were already on to set up Chilli Research Centre in Narsampet area.

The State government has already sent proposals to the Centre and Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to set up the Chilli Research Centre. 90 acres of land was identified for the research centre, he added.

Srinivas Reddy said that setting up of the processing units in the areas where the production of the particular crop was high would help farmers get remunerative prices and creates employment.

There was huge response for the drip and sprinklers irrigation units from the farmers. About 1, 46,000 farmers have applied for the drip and sprinklers units this year. The units were being given to cover five hectares, the minister said.

Srinivas Reddy inaugurated a Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) building at Chennaraopet where the local MLA D Madhava Reddy and his followers created ruckus over a protocol issue and boycotted the meeting. TSCSCL Chairman P Sudarshan Reddy, MLA Ch Dharma Reddy, Warangal Rural district Collector Prashanth J Patil and others were present.