‘Machinery in farming needed’

Shillong: Agriculture Minister, Bantiedor Lyngdoh, on Tuesday inaugurated the Kisan Mela on Agricultural Machineries and Equipment in a function held at the Integrated Agriculture Training Centre (IATC) building at Upper Shillong.
The aim of the mela was to create awareness on the use of machinery in farming and also to acquaint farmers with the subsidies available to procure such machines.
The mela was organised by the Department of Agriculture under Agriculture Engineering (Mechanical Wing). It was organised for farmers from East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi District. Similar melas will also be held by the department in different districts.
Speaking on the occasion, Bantiedor said that with farmers being the backbone of the economy, the government is trying to come up with ways and means to uplift the farmers of the state. He also urged the farmers to adopt new methods of farming to keep pace with the changing times. While the Central Government has put in place a number of subsidies, the Department often clubs such subsidies together with State schemes to further lighten the financial burden on famers, Lyngdoh informed. Later, the minister also distributed machines to a few selected beneficiaries from four participating districts.