Himachal Pradesh Fixes Tractor Rates to Aid Small Farmers

The Himachal Pradesh agriculture department has set fixed rates for agricultural services in Hamirpur district to prevent small farmers from being overcharged. This initiative came after complaints about arbitrary pricing. Strict measures are to be enforced against those who charge beyond these set rates.

The Himachal Pradesh agriculture department has intervened to protect small farmers in Hamirpur district by establishing fixed rates for essential agricultural services including sowing, harvesting, and threshing. This move aims to curb the previously rampant arbitrary pricing by equipment operators.

Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, Shashipal Atri, highlighted that persistent complaints from farmers forced the district administration to regulate the rates for tractor services. The approved rates, as per the Deputy Commissioner of Hamirpur, are Rs 1,200 per hour for tractor ploughing and sowing, Rs 1,320 for ploughing with a rotavator, and also for harvesting and threshing.

Further, power tiller sowing is set at Rs 500 per hour, harvesting with a reaper at Rs 1,300, and brush cutter harvesting at Rs 400 per hour. Atri warned that strict penalties will be imposed on drivers who exceed these prescribed charges, ensuring fair pricing for small-scale farmers.

(With inputs from agencies.)