Mini-tillers have been distributed to 61 farmers of Jumla in subsidy. To mechanise and commercialise the traditional agricultural system, the Prime Minister Agricultural Modernisation Apple Supper Zone Office has distributed mini hand tiller with a 50 per cent subsidy.

Chief of the Office Khemraj Shahi said that under the Prime Minister Agriculture Modernisation Programme, hand tillers have been distributed to various individuals, groups, firms and cooperatives in the district based on the available budget and farmers' demands.

As per the agriculture tools distribution procedure, 61 mini hand tillers have been distributed from the budget of the apple super zone programme and Rs. 1.2 million from farmers this year.

According to Shahi, it is easy to connect the farmers engaged in agricultural work with the modern agricultural system through hand tillers as they can be easily used in fields and orchards.

According to him, the cost of a mini-tiller is Rs. 39,900. The farmers have an investment of Rs. 19,950 per mini tiller.

Agricultural experts said that due to the recent problem of young people migrating abroad, hand tractors are considered suitable for agricultural mechanisation.

As agriculture is a prerequisite for the economic prosperity of Jumla, it is necessary to focus on employment through the mechanisation of agriculture, they said. The use of tillers as agricultural tools will help increase agricultural production, said Sahi.

Owing to the lack of mechanisation and modernisation in agriculture, the target production has not been achieved in the Himalayan region. The 61 farmers who get hand tillers have also been given a two-day district-level training for using technology in farming and processing crops.