Patna: The Bihar government has taken a significant step towards modernising agriculture by ensuring farmers have access to quality equipment and timely services. A meeting chaired by Sanjay Kumar Secretary of the Agriculture Department, was held at Krishi Bhawan in Patna with agricultural equipment manufacturers from across the state and beyond to address these priorities.
Speaking at the meeting, sanjay kumar emphasised the importance of prompt servicing for purchased equipment. He directed manufacturers to engrave unique identification numbers on all machines to streamline maintenance and tracking.
Building a Skilled Workforce
Acknowledging the challenges of timely servicing, He urged manufacturers to train local youth in Bihar to increase the number of service mechanics. He also stressed the importance of ensuring spare parts availability at dealer centres, saying, “Farmers must not face delays in maintaining their equipment.”
Digital Updates for Better Monitoring
To enhance transparency, the state has mandated manufacturers to update details of all equipment, including serial numbers, on the OFMAS portal. For equipment priced above 1 lakh, manufacturers must also upload e-way bills to the platform.
Transparency in Pricing
In a bid to prevent price discrepancies, Agrawal instructed manufacturers to prominently display the maximum retail price (MRP) on agricultural equipment and ensure dealer showrooms provide clear MRP lists for all products.
Subsidies to Drive Mechanisation
The Secretary announced that 186 crore in subsidies has been allocated under the Agricultural Mechanisation Scheme this year. These funds will support the purchase of equipment and the establishment of custom hiring centres. Looking ahead, the government plans to increase this to over 250 crore in the next financial year to encourage modern farming practices.
“This initiative is part of our commitment to ensure farmers have access to quality equipment on time,” He said, adding that the government remains focused on supporting technological advancements in agriculture.
