Govt to open 174 farm implement repair centres in rural areas

The state government is planning to open exclusive repair and service centres for agricultural implements across the state in the coming months.

These outlets will be on a par with garages for two-wheelers with basic equipment and gadgets for maintenance and repair of farm tools. The move comes in the wake of demand from farmers for the opening up of such centres in rural areas.

According to official sources, while there are plenty of repair and service centres for vehicles, there is severe shortage of such outlets for farm implements.

Most farmers use motorised agricultural implements such as roller and rotator for soil cultivation, sprayers for pest control, pumpset for irrigation and a host of other equipment for harvesting and post-harvesting processes. However, farmers are left in the lurch when these implements break down.

Taking these aspects into view, as many as 174 exclusive repair and service centres for farm equipment will be opened. The government is also planning to provide training to rural youth to manage these centres. A grant of Rs 10 crore will soon be sanctioned for the project, the sources added.

Those willing to open such outlets will get 50-75% subsidy from the state government, the officials added.