Nagpur: As the government facility of DTB (Direct to Bank Account) has been extended to farmers to buy agriculture equipment, the farmers will now be able to purchase quality equipment of their choice for their farm related activities. The notification to this effect issued by agriculture commissioner will curb the interference of middlemen in terms of subsidy, due to whom the farmers are always put to loss, but now the condition of farmers will improve.
According to sources, the agriculture commissionerate/ project directorate has issued instructions to all district agriculture superintendents and agriculture officers to deposit the money direct to the bank account of beneficiary farmer, for purchase of agriculture equipment to be bought during years 2015-16 under National Food Security Project. It is said that 50% of the cost of the equipment would be directly given to beneficiary in cash.
Beneficiary committees to be set up:
The committees of beneficiaries will be set at tahsil level under the supervision of agriculture officers, and all prospective farmers will be included in the committees.
Maximum up to Rs 1.25 lakh to be deposited under DTB:
Sources further said, under National Food Security Project, there is a provision of extending government grant ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 1.25 lakh and the money will directly be deposited as DTB to buy 8 HP or more capacity power tiller, rota operator, automatic paddy sowing machine, drum seeder, manual spraying pump, automatic harvester, bull-operated cultivator, seed drill, power nap sack, multi-crop sowing and spiral separator, etc. The aim to directly benefit the farmers so that they may buy the quality equipment to raise their crops with modern techniques.
Freedom to buy equipment:
According to official sources, the farmers other than SC, ST categories and minimum land holders will comparatively get less grant to buy agriculture equipment. Until this change, the farmers were supplied the low quality or substandard equipment through agriculture department on government grant, but now they will free hand to go for better equipment.
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Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha (rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com)
