Tiruchy farmers, grappling with a severe shortage of agricultural labourers, have urged the state government to provide farm machinery at minimal rental rates and higher subsidies to ease their burden. The labour crisis, worsened by a shift towards MGNREGA jobs, has impacted farming operations from sowing to harvesting. Despite these challenges, nearly three lakh acres have been cultivated.
Small-scale farmers are facing the brunt of rising labour costs, putting their financial stability at risk. “To mitigate this crisis, farmers need access to essential machinery, such as harvesters and weeders, at the lowest rental rates. The government should provide subsidies of 75 to 100 per cent for tractors and harvesters to reduce dependence on manual labour and lower expenses,” said P Viswanathan, president of the Thamizhaga Eri Matrum Aatru Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam.
A Kandasamy, executive engineer of the agriculture engineering department in Tiruchy, highlighted the department’s rental services, offering bulldozers at Rs 1,230 per hour—significantly lower than the Rs 2,500 charged by private operators. Similarly, tractors are available for Rs 500 per hour, compared to Rs 1,200 from private providers.
He also noted that farmers can buy various farm machines, including harvesters, transplanters, power tillers, and balers, with subsidies ranging from 40 to 50 per cent, depending on eligibility. “In previous years, persuading farmers to adopt mechanized farming was a challenge. Now, more farmers are embracing modern equipment,” he added.