Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyantra Yojana
Modern farm machinery on rent at your nearest PACS — no need to buy, just book and use through the eSahkari portal.
Run by: Department of Cooperatives, Government of Bihar
- Total budget
- ₹1,692.60 crore
- Model
- Rent from PACS machinery banks
- PACS funding
- 50% grant + 50% soft loan
- Bank setup cost
- ~₹20 lakh per PACS
- Booking portal
- eSahkari (online + app)
- Cabinet approval
- 24 August 2018
Overview
Bihar's Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyantra Yojana solves a basic problem: most small and marginal farmers cannot afford to buy a tractor, rotavator or harvester, but they need these machines for a few days every season. The scheme sets up Krishi Sanyantra Banks (farm-machinery banks) at Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS) locations across Bihar, so farmers can walk to their nearest PACS and rent the machine they need at a government-fixed rate.
The Bihar Cabinet approved the scheme on 24 August 2018 under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, with a total budget of ₹1,692.60 crore. Each PACS receives a package — 50% as a grant and 50% as a soft loan — to build a machinery shed (roughly ₹20 lakh per bank) and stock it with tractors, power tillers, rotavators, cultivators, seed drills, sprayers, threshers, harvesters and other implements suited to local cropping patterns.
The Cooperative Department runs the scheme, not the Agriculture Department — this is a deliberate design choice. Bihar already has a separate purchase-subsidy programme (Krishi Yantrikaran Yojana via OFMAS/farmech.bihar.gov.in) that helps individual farmers buy equipment at 40–80% subsidy. Harit Krishi Sanyantra fills a different gap: it pools machinery at village-level cooperatives so that farmers who cannot afford even the subsidised purchase price can still access mechanisation on a pay-per-use basis.
Booking is done through the eSahkari portal (esahkari.bihar.gov.in) or the e-Sahkari mobile app on Google Play. The farmer selects the machine, the date range, and the nearest PACS — the system shows real-time availability. After use the equipment is returned to the bank, ready for the next booking.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Access to tractors, power tillers, rotavators, cultivators, seed drills, sprayers, threshers, harvesters and other modern implements — without buying them.
- Machinery available at PACS-level — the same village cooperative where farmers already hold accounts — so no long travel to a block or district centre.
- Government-fixed rental rates keep costs predictable and affordable for small and marginal farmers.
- Online booking through eSahkari portal or mobile app shows real-time machine availability, cutting out middlemen and wait-time uncertainty.
- PACS machinery banks maintain and service the equipment, so the farmer gets a ready-to-use machine every season.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Permanent resident of Bihar
- Must be a farmer engaged in agriculture (small and marginal farmers given priority)
- Booking through eSahkari portal or the nearest PACS that has a Krishi Sanyantra Bank
- Group bookings by farmer producer organisations, self-help groups and joint-liability groups also accepted at many PACS
Not covered
- Farmers outside Bihar
- Applicants seeking a purchase subsidy — that is a separate scheme (Krishi Yantrikaran Yojana via farmech.bihar.gov.in)
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account passbook
- Land record or farm papers
- Mobile number (linked to Aadhaar for OTP on eSahkari)
- Passport-size photograph
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Register on eSahkari or visit your nearest PACS
Go to esahkari.bihar.gov.in or download the e-Sahkari app. Register with your Aadhaar and mobile number. You can also walk into any PACS that has a Krishi Sanyantra Bank and book in person.
- 2
Select the machine and dates
Browse the available machinery at your nearest PACS, pick the implement you need (tractor, rotavator, sprayer, thresher, etc.) and choose the date range for rental.
- 3
Confirm booking and pay the rental
Pay the government-fixed rental amount at the PACS. The amount depends on the machine type and duration. You receive a booking confirmation.
- 4
Use and return
Collect the equipment from the PACS machinery bank on the booked date, use it on your farm, and return it to the bank after use. The PACS handles maintenance and servicing.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- If the PACS refuses a booking, a machine is unavailable despite showing available online, or you face overcharging — raise the issue with the District Cooperative Officer (DCO) at your district collectorate, or write to the Department of Cooperatives through the eSahkari portal.
- Beyond the department, use Bihar's Lok Shikayat grievance portal — lokshikayat.bihar.gov.in — or call the toll-free helpline 1800-345-6284 (9 am to 6:30 pm). Under the Right to Public Grievance Redressal Act 2015, Bihar mandates resolution within 60 working days with a two-level appeal.
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from Bihar Krishi Yantrikaran Yojana?
Krishi Yantrikaran (via farmech.bihar.gov.in) gives individual farmers a 40–80% purchase subsidy to buy their own machines. Harit Krishi Sanyantra does not sell anything — it lets you rent equipment from a PACS machinery bank at a low fixed rate and return it after use.
Do I need to be a PACS member to rent?
Any farmer in Bihar can book. Being a PACS member may make the process smoother since the cooperative already has your records, but membership is not a strict requirement at most banks.
What machines are available?
The exact list varies by PACS and local cropping pattern, but typically includes tractors, power tillers, rotavators, cultivators, seed drills, zero-till seed drills, sprayers, threshers, reapers and harvesters. Check availability on the eSahkari portal for your area.
How much does renting cost?
Rental rates are fixed by the government and vary by machine type and duration. The aim is to keep them well below market hiring rates. Check current rates on eSahkari or ask at your local PACS.
Can I book online?
Yes. Use the eSahkari portal (esahkari.bihar.gov.in) or the e-Sahkari app on Google Play. You can see real-time availability and book for specific dates.
What if the machine breaks down during use?
Report it to the PACS immediately. The machinery bank is responsible for maintenance and repairs. You are not expected to fix the equipment yourself.
Facts checked against esahkari.bihar.gov.in on 27 September 2026. editorial policy.