Manipur farmers get tractors, power tillers

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Feb. 23 (EMN): Horticulture and Soil Conservation Minister Thounaojam Shyamkumar on Saturday distributed tractors and power tillers to the selected beneficiaries (farmers) at the office complex of Horticulture and Soil Conservation department, Sanjenthong in Imphal.

Altogether 22 selected farmers from the districts of Imphal east, Imphal west, Kangpokpi, Churachandpur and Senapati were given 9 tractors and 13 power tillers at the subsidised rate in the first phase of farm mechanisation of the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) scheme (2018-19) under the aegis of the Horticulture and Soil Conservation department.

A subsidy of INR 1 lakh each on tractors and INR 75,000 each on power tillers have been given to the selected beneficiaries for purchasing machineries.

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India gave assistance of INR 57.50 lakh for procuring 50 power tillers and 20 tractors which will be distributed to the selected beneficiaries in phase wise.

Speaking at the distribution programme, Shyamkumar said collective effort of the stakeholders will help in raising the income of farmers and boost the economy of the state.

“Government is helping the selected farmers to lend a helping hand to the needy farmers so that all the farmers can work hard to increase the crop production,” the minister said.

The department aims to increase the productivity of agriculturist and horticulturist in the state and to make it fully organic, said Principal Secretary JC Ramthanga.

Director K Kipgen lauded the MIDH expressed hope that the farmers will benefit from assistance given by the department.

MIDH Mission Director N Premananda Singh informed that the distribution for the second phase will be done in March.