http://www1.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-18/0808269897200655.htm
Agro sector to receive rls 600b in subsidies
Tehran, Aug 26, IRNA
Iran-Subsidies-Agriculture
Some 600 billion rials will be extended as subsidies for buying tractors and
combine harvesters this year, said head of the Center for Development of
Agricultural Mechanization.
According to IRNA, Gholamabbas Paknejad told reporters on Tuesday that
identifying and developing modern technologies in agricultural mechanization,
supporting procurement of agricultural machines, developing mechanization units
and drawing up national standards for agricultural tools are among the main
programs of the center in the year to March.
He further said that last year, some 570 billion rials in subsidized facilities
were paid by Saderat and Keshavarzi
(agriculture) banks and 104 billion rials as well as 1,666 billion rials were
granted as facilities to applicants for investment in the field.
A total of 127 billion rials of capital in circulation facilities were also
extended in the framework of the plan for small economic quick-return and
job-generating enterprises for buying tractors, combine harvesters and other
agricultural equipment.
Putting the mechanization index at 0.84 horsepower per hectare in the past
year, Paknejad added that the figure is expected to reach 1.18 horsepower per
hectare by the end of Fourth Development Plan (in 2010).
Some 27, 835 tractors and 846 combine harvesters were bought for the
agriculture sector last year, he said.
Some 1,027 and 310 mechanization units were established in 2006 and 2007
respectively, he concluded.
MR**2322**1416
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