In a major pro-farmers initiative, the Punjab Government has launched a special scheme to release direct subsidy to them for the purchase of agricultural and horticultural implements from any empanelled firm of their choice.This path breaking decision was taken by the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal on the basis of a detailed proposal submitted by the Chairman Punjab State Farmers' Commission after having marathon discussions with the experts of the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. Mr. Badal cleared the proposal to this effect this morning allowing the farmers to avail off subsidy of 50% on a list of 61 approved agricultural and horticultural implements under various schemes for the current fiscal 2014-15. The Chief Minister also directed the state Agriculture department to ask the various empanelled firms for taking necessary action in this behalf.This decision would enable the farmers to negotiate the price with the supplier of his choice and avail the subsidy accordingly. This would also help in stabilization of prices of subsidized equipments in the market besides giving a fillip to the farm mechanization and effective management and disposal of crop residues in order to save the environment from pollution.