Mechanisation of the farm sector and efficient diffusion of appropriate technology at the grassroots would be thrust areas for the Assam Agriculture Department. They would involve a team of skilled human resource base, including administrators and agri-scientists. Speaking at a press conference Pramila Rani Brahma, the State Agriculture Minister asserted that such a strategy was necessary to bring much needed growth to the almost stagnant agri-sector. As part of the mechanisation programme, and under the State Priority Sector Scheme 2007-08, 245 tractors, 2012 power tillers, and under the Assam Bikash Yojana 2007-08 293 tractors and 589 power tillers would be made available to the farmers. Total investment would be in the region of Rs 48 crore. In the next year more machineries