Mysuru: Shri Kshethra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) Executive Director Dr. L.H. Manjunath inaugurated the newly constructed Office of the South Zone Farm Machinery Custom Hire Centre at Sankalpa Soudha, Kalasthavadi here yesterday morning.

In an effort to promote paddy cultivation and harvesting using modern technology, SKDRDP, known for its various initiatives to help the people of rural areas since 2014, has undertaken this ambitious project in Mysuru district.

Later, addressing the gathering, Regional Director M.K. Abraham highlighted the salient features of the project. 

Farm Mechanisation project, which was undertaken by the State Government, under its Krishi Yantra Dhare programme, in association with SKDRDP in the year 2014, has  now a total of 164 CHSCs (Custom Hire Service Centres) in the State. 

The South Zone has 55 centres and each centre now has over one crore rupees worth farm machinery and equipment as well as five combined harvesters to help farmers take up agricultural activities with ease. 

The major constraint in mechanisation is that small and marginal farmers cannot afford to purchase costly equipment. With the establishment of CHSCs in the region, farmers are able to hire and avail services from the centre. 

At present, there are 25 harvesters including paddy harvesting machines which are available for use in the centre. Under the Yantrasri programme of the SKDRDP, a total of 392 farmers have availed the services for paddy cultivation in the current Kharif season.

Mysuru Regional Director P. Gangadhara Rai and South Zone Centre Director Dinesh were present during the inauguration.