Shadow Correspondent
SHOPIAN, MAR 29:
The Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Shopian, Ghulam Hassan Magray today inaugurated a Farm Machinery Bank in presence of DDC Member Keller, Ch. Fazul U din at Village Gatipora of Tehsil Keller, Shopian.
The Farm Machinery Bank was established under the Central Sector Scheme, Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).
Speaking on the occasion, the CAO said that the Farm Machinery Banks are very helpful for the farming community to increase their net income by way of reducing the cost of cultivation through farm mechanization.
He said though the Mechanization in agriculture is increasing day by day, it is not easy for every farmer especially Small and Marginal farmers to buy and own such expensive agricultural machinery and equipment because of high cost with associated low annual utilization.
He further said that given the predominance of such smallholder farming systems, the potential for Farm Machinery Bank is quite huge as the Farm Machinery bank for agricultural machinery enables farmers to rent equipment for a defined period of time, only paying for the services related to the renting activity.
It will ensure the availability and use of agricultural machines and equipment on a custom hire basis and could help the rapid mechanization of agriculture, which will ultimately increase the production and productivity and will uplift the economy of farmers.
The CAO encouraged the entrepreneurs and agriculture graduates to set up Farm Machinery Bank and related business units for earning their livelihood.
Meanwhile, the CAO, Shopian also inaugurated Custom Hiring Centre at Zainapora, Shopian and said that Tillers, Warders, Spray Motors, Brush Cutters and Irrigation Pump Sets may be available in Custom Hiring Centre to facilitate those farmers to hire these equipments in hiring basis who are not in a position to purchase them from the open market.
