Explained: How rising fuel prices will hit input costs of farm operations

Escalating fuel prices are set to burn a hole in the pocket of already stressed farming community. The Indian Express explains how rising prices of petrol and diesel are set to increase the input cost of farming sector by 28 per cent compared to last year.

How will fuel price rise enhance the input cost in the agriculture sector?

In Punjab, there are around 11 lakh farm households which own 5.20 lakh tractors, nearly 17,000 combine harvesters including nearly 6,000 with an attachment of Straw Management System (SMS), which are used for harvesting around 36-37 million tonnes wheat and paddy in the state annually.

Apart from this the state owns 75,000 stubble management machines, over one lakh other farm implements. All these machines are diesel operated and mostly tractor mounted and are used to cultivate nearly 42 lakh hectares area in Punjab. Apart from this there are 1.50 lakh diesel operated tubewells too in the state.