- State Government responds positively to representations from farmers, MLAs, MPs and other stakeholders seeking more time for equipment purchases
- ₹750-crore-plus provision earmarked for the 2026-27 Chief Minister’s Mechanisation Scheme
- Extension aimed at ensuring eligible farmers do not lose benefits because manufacturers cannot deliver equipment within the original deadline
- Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani urges manufacturers to ensure timely delivery of approved farm implements and tractor-operated equipment
- Government appeals to eligible farmers to make maximum use of the welfare-oriented scheme and accelerate farm mechanisation
NE AGRICULTURE BUREAU
GANDHINAGAR, AUG 29
In a move aimed at putting farmers’ interests ahead of procedural deadlines, the Gujarat Government has extended by 15 days the time available to eligible farmers to purchase agricultural implements and tractor-operated equipment under the Chief Minister’s Mechanisation Scheme for 2026-27.
Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said the decision had been taken after the Government received representations from farmers, legislators and other public representatives pointing to a practical difficulty: a large number of applications had been approved simultaneously, leaving manufacturers unable to deliver the sanctioned machinery and equipment to all beneficiaries within the original deadline.
The additional 15 days, he said, would ensure that eligible farmers who have already received approval get a fair opportunity to complete their purchases and avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.
₹750 crore plus for farm mechanisation
The State Government has made a substantial provision of more than ₹750 crore for the 2026-27 financial year under the Chief Minister’s Mechanisation Scheme, Vaghani said.
The scheme is aimed at enabling farmers across Gujarat to access modern agricultural implements and tractor-operated equipment, thereby promoting mechanisation and improving efficiency in farming operations.
Applications were invited through the i-Khedut portal, following which eligible farmers were granted approval to purchase the prescribed agricultural machinery within the stipulated period.
The Government’s objective, Vaghani said, is to ensure that farmers across the State receive the benefits of the scheme on an equitable basis.
15-day window to be counted after original deadline
The extension follows representations from several quarters after manufacturers faced difficulties in supplying equipment to a large number of approved beneficiaries within the prescribed period.
“Since applications of a large number of farmers were approved at the same time, manufacturers of agricultural implements and equipment were unable to deliver the machinery to farmers within the stipulated period,” Vaghani said in explaining the circumstances behind the decision.
Representations were subsequently received from farmers, MLAs, MPs and other public representatives seeking an extension of the purchase deadline.
Taking the practical difficulty into account, the State Government has adopted a sensitive and farmer-friendly approach and approved an additional 15-day purchase window for eligible farmers whose applications have already been sanctioned.
Farmers will now have to complete the purchase within 15 days after the last date originally prescribed for them.
From digital approval to actual delivery
The extension seeks to bridge an important gap between government approval and actual delivery of machinery.
The i-Khedut portal has enabled the State to process applications and identify eligible beneficiaries, but the simultaneous approval of a large number of applications created a supply-side challenge for manufacturers.
The additional period is therefore intended to ensure that farmers do not suffer merely because approved equipment could not reach them within the original timeframe.
For beneficiaries, the message is clear: the extension provides an opportunity to complete the purchase process without losing the benefit already sanctioned under the scheme.
Manufacturers urged to speed up supplies
Vaghani also appealed to manufacturers of agricultural implements and equipment in Gujarat to ensure that approved machinery reaches farmers within the extended timeframe.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat”, the Agriculture Minister said several manufacturers in Gujarat had embraced self-reliance and were producing high-quality agricultural implements.
He urged manufacturers to ensure timely delivery so that farmers could put the equipment to productive use in their fields without further delay.
The appeal assumes importance because timely availability of agricultural machinery can directly influence farm operations, particularly when equipment is required during specific cultivation windows.
A push towards smarter, more efficient farming
Farm mechanisation is increasingly becoming an important component of modern agriculture, helping farmers reduce dependence on manual labour, improve operational efficiency and complete farm activities within critical timeframes.
By supporting the purchase of agricultural implements and tractor-operated equipment, the State’s mechanisation scheme seeks to make modern farm technology more accessible to eligible farmers.
The ₹750-crore-plus allocation for 2026-27 reflects the scale of the State Government’s intervention in this area.
The latest extension also illustrates the importance of ensuring that policy benefits reach the intended beneficiary on the ground, rather than remaining confined to administrative approvals.
Vaghani urged all eligible farmers to make maximum use of the Government’s welfare-oriented scheme.
With the additional 15 days now available, the focus shifts from sanction to supply—and from approval to actual use in the fields.
