KHAMMAM: Mechanisation of agriculture is slowly gaining prominence in the district with the shortage of farm labourers. After the launch of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, more and more farm workers are reluctant to work in the fields, which has resulted in shortage of labourers. They are also demanding more wages to work in the fields. Unable to bear the rising cultivation costs, farmers are increasingly opting for mechanisation of agriculture which is economical if the landholdings are large. Ramachandra Rao, a farmer of Konijerla village, said: “If we want to continue cultivation we should depend on machines but not on labour to reduce costs.” M Koteswara Rao, a farmer of Venkatayapalem, said now different types of farm equipment was available in the market to carry out sowing to crop harvesting. Hence, there is no need to depend on farm labourers for agricultural operations, he said.Joint director of agriculture K Hemamaheswara Rao said they were encouraging farmers to go for mechanisation of agriculture. All farm equipment is being supplied to farmers at a subsidy. Training camps are also being conducted for farmers to create an awareness among them about advanced farm technology and equipment, the joint director said.
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