New Schemes and Benefits for the Farmers by Assam Government

The Assam government have come up with several new plans and programmes for the agricultural sector of the state. The state Agriculture Minister Atul Bora announcing the state government’s schemes for this sector says that there are multiple beneficial schemes for the farmers in the state and these are being planned to keep sync with the Centre's bid to double farmers' incomes by 2022.

Stating the benefits planned for the farmers of the state, the Agriculture minister further explained that there will be 60,000 diesel pump sets, 30,000 electrical centrifugal pump sets and 11,000 solar photovoltaic pumping systems for the farmers which they can buy from the government at subsidized rates. The government has taken this initiative under the Rural Infrastructure Development Project with support from Nabard. For farmers intending to buy diesel pumps, the pumps will now be provided at a revised price. Earlier these diesel pump sets were provided at 50 per cent subsidized rate and now, one can avail these at 75 per cent subsidy. Similarly, the subsidized rates of the electrically-operated pump set too are raised from 50 per cent to 75 per cent. For the solar-powered pumps, the farmers will have to pay the same at 85 per cent subsidized rate.

Atul Bora said, "Setting up of electrical sub-stations of 25kVA and 53kVA and last-mile connection for supplying electricity to farmers is also included in the irrigation development scheme. Mechanisation of agriculture is sought to be achieved by making power tillers, cultivators, rotavators, ploughs, seed drills and other equipment on hire from individuals who will be provided with these items at subsidised rates by the state government."

Moreover, there are plans of setting up godowns with a capacity of 100 metric tonnes in 150 agriculture development blocks and for this purpose, Rs 20.79 crore has been announced under the National Agriculture Development Programme.