30,000 farmers of 10 more dists to get subsidy

Some 30,000 farmers of 10 more districts will get 25 per cent subsidy in purchasing farm machinery this year, reports UNB. Official sources said the subsidy will be provided among farmers in the 10 districts, including Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Barisal, Magura and Bandarban for buying 2,400 power tillers, 200 tractors and 256 power threshers. The government introduced the subsidy in January 2010 in 15 districts. Ten more districts have been added this year. Sheikh Md Nazim Uddin, project director of Enhancement of Crop Production through Farm Mechanisation at DAE, said the government has already subsidised the purchase of 19,800 power tillers, 8 combined harvesters, 860 tractors, 200 sprayers and 1088 power threshers worth Tk 680 million in 15 since January 2010. However, a total of Tk 900 million has been spent on the project as it also includes components such as demonstrating new machinery for popularising them and arranging training workshops for farmers, he said. He said the government will also continue the subsidy in the previous 15 districts.