YS Jagan distributes 2,562 tractors to farmers under YSR Yantra Seva in Guntur

GUNTUR: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday distributed 2,562 tractors and 100 combine harvesters costing Rs 361 crores to farmers in Guntur. The distribution was made part of a Mega Mela under the YSR Yantra Seva Scheme. The Chief Minister also distributed 13,573 other types of agricultural gadgets and machinery. He also transferred Rs 125.48 crore subsidy amount into the accounts of farmers' groups on this occasion.

The line-up of the tractors and combine harvesters, before their distribution to the farmers, made for a grand spectacle. The aerial shots captured by drone cameras presented the scale and magnitude of the event with the serpentine queues, stretching into several kilometres, of the brand-new vehicles.

After flagging off the tractors and combine harvesters, the Chief Minister also formally launched 4,019 YSR Yantra Seva Kendras.

Handing over 2,562 tractors, 100 combine harvesters and 3,573 farm machines to the RBKs-attached farmers’ groups, the Chief Minister said that 40 percent subsidy would be given on purchase of these machines while 50 percent of the cost would be arranged through loans. The groups would be asked to pay 10 percent of the cost, he added.

YS Jagan directly released Rs 125.48 crore of subsidy into the bank accounts of farmers’ groups with the click of a button. The tractors and harvesters will also be at the disposal of 10,444 RBKs, he said, adding that cluster-level community hiring centers (CHCs) would supervise the operations.

He said that the Government handed over a total of 3,800 tractors, 391 combine harvesters and 22,580 farm machines worth Rs 690.87crore to farmers’ groups working under 6,525 RBKs in the first phase with a subsidy of Rs 240.67 crore, besides setting up 391 CHCs.

The scheme aims at reducing cost of cultivation and enhancing farmers’ income through mechanisation, he said, adding that tractors, harvesters and other machines could be hired by farmers for lesser rents.

The Government will also launch the YSR Yantra Seva App and farmers can seek the services with the help of the app which can be accessed at RBKs, he said.

The Chief Minister said that sprayers, tarpaulins and breeders would be distributed in October next and seven lakh farmers would be benefited.