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23h ago
PM Modi to release Rs 18,690 crore to 9.34 crore farmers nationwide tomorrow
New Delhi, October 29 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) on Friday (October 30) at Banaskantha in Gujarat, transferring more than ₹18,690 crore directly to the bank accounts of over 9.34 crore farmers across the country, according to an official statement issued on Thursday. The Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation 521 units established under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund to strengthen agricultural storage, processing and related infrastructure, and inaugurate 12 horticulture clusters to promote high-value horticultural crops and enhance the income of farmers, the statement said. Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan will participate in the programme to mark the release of PM-KISAN instalment at Raisen, Madhya Pradesh. The event is expected to witness the participation of a large number of farmers from the region, providing an important platform to highlight the significance of PM-KISAN and other key initiatives of the Department, while reaffirming the Government’s continued commitment to farmers’ welfare, prosperity and empowerment. Through the first 23 instalments of PM-KISAN, more than ₹4.47 lakh crore has already been disbursed to eligible farmers. The scheme provides income support to eligible farmer families through Direct Benefit Transfer, helping them meet agricultural and household expenses and supporting their livelihood security. Other key initiatives taken up by the government for farmers' welfare include the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Minimum Support Price (MSP), and Per Drop More Crop. These measures aim to provide financial assistance, strengthen risk protection, improve access to agricultural credit and promote technology-driven agricultural governance for holistic empowerment of farmers. The Government is also advancing self-reliance in agriculture through initiatives such as the National Mission on Edible Oils and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. In addition, the National Mission on Natural Farming is encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices through the development of clusters across the country. Recognising the importance of post-harvest management and agricultural infrastructure in improving farmers’ returns, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) promotes investments in warehouses, cold storage facilities, primary processing centres and other essential agricultural infrastructure. Under the AIF, investments of approximately ₹1.75 lakh crore have been made across more than 2.28 lakh projects, supporting the development of critical agricultural infrastructure across the country. These investments are expected to strengthen storage and processing capabilities, reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access and enable farmers to obtain better returns for their produce, the statement added.
