Krishi Yantra Dhare
Rent a tractor or implement at ₹200–2,000 an acre — roughly half the open-market rate — from a village-level Custom Hiring Centre, with extra discount for SC/ST and women farmers.
Run by: Department of Agriculture (Raitha Mitra), Government of Karnataka
- Rental rate
- ₹200–2,000/acre
- Discount vs market
- ~50% cheaper
- Centres
- 500+ across villages
- Extra discount
- 50% more for SC/ST & women
- Launched
- 2014, with SKDRDP as PPP partner
- SKDRDP centres
- 164 across 25 districts
Overview
Rather than subsidising machine purchase for every farmer, Krishi Yantra Dhare builds a network of over 500 village Custom Hiring Centres stocked with tractors, tillers and other implements that any farmer in the area can rent by the acre or by the hour.
This suits small and marginal holdings especially well, since owning a tractor rarely makes financial sense for a couple of acres — renting at a subsidised rate gets the same job done without the capital outlay.
Behind the network is a public-private partnership: the Department of Agriculture launched the model in 2014 with the rural-development organisation Shri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), which alone runs 164 of the centres across 25 districts and 164 hoblis, jointly owned with the department on a roughly 50-50 stake. On offer is everything from tractors, tillers, rotavators and harvesters to sprayers, levelling blades, sowing planters, and irrigation and processing equipment, with experienced operators and advance booking. Between 2014 and 2024, the SKDRDP-partnered centres alone represented a cumulative investment of about ₹137.46 crore, funded through government grants and bank loans.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Machinery rental at ₹200–2,000 per acre, roughly half the open-market rate.
- No need to own or maintain expensive equipment for occasional use.
- Over 500 hiring centres spread across villages for easier access.
- Additional 50% discount on the rental rate for SC/ST and women farmers.
- A significant share of centres are run jointly with SKDRDP, a well-established rural-development organisation, with experienced operators and advance booking.
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
- Farmer in Karnataka needing machinery for land preparation, sowing or harvest
- Booking through the nearest Krishi Yantra Dhare / Custom Hiring Centre
- SC/ST or women farmers can claim the additional discount with the relevant certificate
Not covered
- Areas without an operational hiring centre nearby may have limited machine availability
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- FID (Farmer ID) or land record
- Caste certificate, where claiming the SC/ST discount
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Locate the nearest hiring centre
Find the nearest Custom Hiring Centre through the Raitha Mitra portal or the local Raitha Samparka Kendra.
- 2
Book the machine
Reserve the tractor or implement for the required acreage or duration, noting eligibility for the SC/ST or women's discount if applicable.
- 3
Pay the subsidised rate and use it
Pay the discounted per-acre or per-hour rate and use the machinery for the booked farm operation.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- Issues with machine availability, booking or the operator at a given centre should first be raised with the Raitha Samparka Kendra (RSK) it is attached to, or with SKDRDP's local office for one of its 164 partnered centres.
- If unresolved, escalate to Janaspandana (iPGRS) — Karnataka's general public-grievance system — on the toll-free helpline 1902, through the portal at ipgrs.karnataka.gov.in, or at a Bapuji Seva Kendra.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to own an FID to rent a machine?
It helps for verification and for claiming any applicable discount, but check with the local hiring centre on their exact booking requirement.
Is the discount rate fixed for every machine?
Rates vary by machine type (₹200–2,000/acre range) — check the current rate card at the hiring centre.
Can any farmer book, or only small landholders?
Any farmer in the service area can book, though the model is especially useful for small and marginal holdings that can't justify owning the equipment.
Who actually runs these hiring centres — is it a purely government operation?
It's a public-private partnership. The Department of Agriculture launched the model in 2014 with Shri Kshetra Dharmastala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP), which alone runs 164 of the centres across 25 districts, jointly owned with the department on a roughly 50-50 stake.
How much has actually been invested in this network?
The SKDRDP-partnered centres alone represented a cumulative investment of about ₹137.46 crore between 2014 and 2024, funded through government grants and bank loans — on top of the wider statewide network of 500+ centres.
Facts checked against raitamitra.karnataka.gov.in on 7 September 2026. editorial policy.