PM gives Rs 17,000cr to 8.5cr PM-KISAN beneficiaries

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday released the 14th installment of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme (PM-KISAN) worth Rs 17,000 crore for about 8.5 crore eligible farmers. The announcement was made at a rally at Sikar in Rajasthan.

The PM also dedicated 1.25 lakh PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras to the nation, apart from onboarding 1,600 FPOs (farmer producer organisations) on ONDC. In his address, Modi said the Centre has taken decisions in the interest of farmers for nine years and created arrangements from seed to market for them. The prime minister described the Kisan Samriddhi Kendras as one-stop centres for farmers that would pave the way for their prosperity.

He said India could only develop when its villages prosper and his government was working to provide in villages every facility that is available in cities. "Our government will not allow farmers to suffer due to the price of urea," Modi said. Farmers in India, he elaborated, get a sack of urea for Rs 266. This is available in Pakistan for about Rs 800, for Rs 720 in Bangladesh and Rs 2,100 in China. Officials said the total amount transferred to beneficiaries since the inception of the PM-KISAN scheme is expected to cross Rs 2.59 lakh crore. The financial assistance will support farmers in meeting their daily needs and contribute to their overall well-being.

PM-KISAN is a central scheme launched on February 24, 2019, and effective from December 2018. Under the scheme, financial benefits of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments are transferred to the bank accounts of farmers' families across the country through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. So far, benefits amounting to more than Rs 2.42 lakh crore have been provided to more than 11 crore farmers across the country.

The government is converting retail fertiliser shops in the country into PMKSKs in a phased manner. These PMKSKs will provide agri-inputs, testing facilities for soil, seeds, and fertilisers to farmers. These centres will generate awareness among farmers, provide information regarding various government schemes and ensure regular capacity building of retailers at block- and district-level outlets.

Modi also launched sulphur coated urea (urea gold) and on-boarded 1,600 farmer producer organisations on ONDC.