Bhopal, April 13 (NationPress) A three-day Advanced Agriculture Festival is currently taking place in the Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh, attracting significant attention from a diverse range of farmers nationwide.

This festival features a variety of agricultural innovations and cutting-edge practices, aiming to educate farmers on the importance of integrating these advancements into their everyday farming routines. Numerous farmers expressed their eagerness to adapt to modern farming techniques, exploring the latest agricultural machinery, technologies, and advanced methods presented at the event.

Importantly, the landscape of Indian agriculture is evolving rapidly, as farmers shift away from traditional practices to implement technology-driven approaches that boost productivity.

The central and state governments are actively promoting this transition, providing farmers with information about various schemes and programs designed to benefit them.

The National Horticulture Board (NHB) is implementing specialized schemes to promote horticulture, offering farmers financial support for cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and medicinal plants.

Moreover, farmers are being introduced to advanced techniques through dedicated training programs.

Devaki Markam, Senior Horticulture Development Officer for Begumganj, communicated to IANS that small-scale farmers are achieving self-reliance through the 'PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises' (PMFME) scheme.

Under this scheme, eligible participants can receive a subsidy of 35% on project costs for setting up or expanding food processing units, thereby generating new job opportunities in rural areas.

Sundar Kantia, Deputy Director (NHB), noted that farmers can access subsidies of up to 50% for constructing protective cultivation structures, including polyhouses, greenhouses, and shade nets.

Additionally, financial aid of up to 40% is available for open-field cultivation of crops like mango, guava, and amla (Indian gooseberry).

Furthermore, subsidies ranging from 30% to 50% are offered for establishing cold storage facilities, pack houses, and other post-harvest infrastructure.

A subsidy of up to 40% is also available to boost mushroom production.

Another initiative is the National Horticulture Mission, which provides farmers with a subsidy of 40% to 55%—through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT)—for implementing drip irrigation, utilizing high-quality planting materials, and adopting modern technologies. Special incentives are also available for cultivating new crops, such as dragon fruit.