(a) whether it is a fact that the prices of agriculture equipments have increased during the last one year;
(b) if so, the details of the equipment which have become costlier; and
(c) the details of steps undertaken by the Government to reduce the prices of agricultural equipment?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI MOHANBHAI KUNDARIA)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Agriculture does not maintain empirical data on prices of agricultural equipment as these are of wide types and sizes categorized under prime movers, self propelled equipment, power driven equipment, hand tools and animal driven equipment. Also, large number of manufacturers in both organized and unorganized sectors located across the country is involved in manufacturing of agricultural equipment and the prices vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from state to state depending upon the demand and supply situation, proximity to manufacturers among other reasons.
Ministry of Agriculture does not regulate the prices of agricultural equipment. However, to lessen the burden on farmers and to promote agricultural mechanization, it provides financial assistance for procurement of different agricultural equipment under various schemes such as National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) and Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM).