West Bengal agriculture department has distributed 13,554 farm machineries, under Farm Mechanization Scheme and has given subsidy to the tune of Rs 59.28 crore in 2022-23.
Forty seven combine harvesters, 102 tractors, 2,567 power tillers, 228 solar pump sets, 144 multi-crop threshers, 23 maize sheller, 12 rice transplanters, 1249 rotavators, 690 power weeders, 39 potato digger, 21 mini oil mills and 180 mini rice mills.
Since inception in 2011-12, 4.9 lakh farm machineries have been distributed with subsidies worth Rs 830.28 crore under the Farm Mechanization Scheme.
Small and marginal farmers are using hi-tech machinery at reasonable rent.
The use of solar pumps has increased. The extent of crop loss during natural calamity has been reduced.
For maintenance and repairing of hi-tech farm machinery like combine harvesters, rice transplanters, tractors, power tillers, the government has established a residential training centre,
Matigantha in East Burdwan district. Already, 365 persons have been given training at Matigantha till March 31, 2023.