Assistance for Tools, Equipment, Shorting/Grading Equipment, PHM Equipment for Scheduled Castes (HRT-4)

Assistance for Tools, Equipment, Shorting/Grading Equipment, PHM Equipment for Scheduled Castes (HRT-4) gives financial support to individual farmers, farmer groups, and cooperative societies from the Scheduled Castes community in Gujarat. The support helps purchase needed farming tools, sorting and grading machinery, packing material, weighing equipment, and post-harvest management or PHM equipment like plastic crates.

This Gujarat state scheme is run by the Directorate of Horticulture under the Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation Department. An individual Scheduled Caste farmer can get up to 75% of the tool cost or a maximum of ₹3,750, while farmer groups and cooperative societies can get up to 90% of the equipment cost or a maximum of ₹7,50,000 for PHM equipment. Applications are made online through the official I-Khedut portal.

Assistance for Tools, Equipment, Shorting/Grading Equipment, PHM Equipment for Scheduled Castes (HRT-4)

Assistance for Tools, Equipment, Shorting/Grading Equipment, PHM Equipment for Scheduled Castes (HRT-4) helps farmers from the Scheduled Castes category modernise their farms with the right tools. Farmers can buy sorting and grading machines, packing material, weighing equipment, and other PHM tools with this money help. The scheme covers plastic crates with equipment such as weights, sorting and grading machinery, packing materials, tarpaulin, and more.

The scheme is still open for applications under the 2026-27 year. Eligible people can apply online and do not need to visit any government office in person. Tools must be bought only from authorised dealers of manufacturers empanelled by the Agriculture Department so that the price discovery stays fair.

Key Information

Benefits

The benefit differs for individual farmers and for farmer groups or cooperative societies. The support limits are fixed by the department.

These amounts help reduce the money pressure on small farmers while buying modern equipment. The covered items include plastic crates, sorting and grading machinery, packing materials, weighing equipment, and tarpaulin.

Eligibility

To get the benefit, the applicant needs to be a permanent resident of Gujarat and must belong to the Scheduled Caste community. The applicant can be an individual farmer or can represent a registered farmer group or cooperative society.

There are a couple of other rules to follow. Tools and equipment must be bought only from authorised dealers of manufacturers empanelled by the Agriculture Department. For tarpaulin seats and plastic crates, the norms set by empanelled companies of the Agriculture Department have to be followed.

Application Process

Application is fully online through the I-Khedut portal. Follow these steps to apply for financial support:

STEP 1 - Visit the official I-Khedut portal and open its home page.

STEP 2 - Click on the 'Schemes' menu and then select 'Horticulture Schemes' from the list.

STEP 3 - Choose the HRT-4 scheme and read the instructions shown for it carefully.

STEP 4 - Click on the 'Apply' button, and the application page will open on the screen.

STEP 5 - Click on the 'Apply New' button to submit a new application, or use the 'Update Application' button to make corrections.

STEP 6 - After completing the application, confirm it and take a printout of the confirmed application form.

STEP 7 - Sign the print, scan it, and upload it through the 'Upload Signed Copy of Application Print' menu on the portal. There is no need to visit the office in person.

STEP 8 - Make sure any scanned PDF file you upload is below 200 KB in size.

After applying, the applicant can check the application status, view, or print the details from the applicant corner on the portal.

Documents

Keep these documents ready before starting the online application so that the process goes smoothly:

• Scheduled Caste certificate issued by a competent authority, needed to prove the community category.
• Aadhaar card copy and land records such as 7/12 and 8-A documents.
• Copy of the bank passbook or a cancelled cheque for getting the payment.
• Disability certificate if the applicant belongs to the PWD category, plus forest rights letter if applicable.

References

For more details, these official resources can be referred to:

• Official I-Khedut scheme page
• Government scheme documentation (Page 168)

FAQ's

Who can apply for this assistance?

Any permanent resident of Gujarat who belongs to the Scheduled Caste community and is an individual farmer, part of a farmer group, or runs a cooperative society can apply.

How much support can an individual Scheduled Caste farmer get?

An individual farmer can get up to 75% of the tool or equipment cost, capped at ₹3,750.

What support is given to farmer groups or cooperative societies?

Farmer groups and cooperative societies can get 90% of the equipment cost, up to a maximum of ₹7,50,000 for post-harvest management equipment.

Are specific brands or dealers required?

Yes, tools and equipment must be bought only from authorised dealers of manufacturers empanelled by the Agriculture Department.

Is an in-person office visit needed?

No, the whole application can be done online, including uploading the signed print, without visiting the government office.