Expressing the state's inability to provide subsidies on happy seeders, machines that sow wheat among standing rice stubble, Agriculture department director Mangal Singh Sandhu has said that the department was waiting for a nod from the central government on the issue.
Sandhu added that the state government had already put up the case before the authorities concerned of the central government and was awaiting an response.

"It will not be possible for us to give subsidy on happy seeders without the centre's nod. Whenever feasible, such machines will be given to farmers on large scale," he said.

In Dhuri to attend the Kheti Darsan Programme, Sandhu appealed to the farmers to sow wheat through happy seeders for better production this time.

"The machine will be environmental friendly as it will obviate the need for stubble burning. The fertility of the soil will also be maintained," said Sandhu.

Agriculture department chief Rajinder Singh Sohi said the purpose of organizing such programmes was to acquaint farmers with new techniques and to make them more technology savvy.

The district agriculture department has asked farmers to apply with the department to get happy seeders, which will be allotted through the draw of the lottery.

To promote the use of such machines, the authorities have also announced a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 for farmers, who have not burnt stubble in past four years and have used the machine to sow wheat seeds this year.