In order to support India’s farming community, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday (October 5), disbursed Rs 20,000 crore as the 18th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme, directly benefiting over 9.4 crore farmers across the country.
During his visit to Washim, Maharashtra, PM Modi released the latest instalment of the PM-KISAN funds, marking a cumulative release of Rs 3.45 lakh crore since the scheme’s launch in 2019. The PM-KISAN scheme provides Rs 6,000 annually to landholding farmers, disbursed in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
Maharashtra has emerged as a key beneficiary under the PM-KISAN scheme. As part of the 18th instalment, around 91.5 lakh farmers in the state received more than Rs 1,900 crore in direct financial aid. Maharashtra ranks second in the country in terms of total disbursements under PM-KISAN, with over Rs 32,000 crore transferred to around 1.2 crore farmers across the previous 17 instalments.
Along with the PM-KISAN funds, PM Modi announced an additional financial benefit of Rs 2,000 crore to farmers in Maharashtra as part of the fifth instalment of the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, a state government initiative aimed at supporting the agricultural sector.
This financial assistance comes just as Maharashtra heads towards its upcoming Assembly elections, underscoring the government’s commitment to the welfare of the agrarian community in the region.
In addition to the financial aid, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Banjara Virasat Museum in Washim. The museum aims to preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Banjara community, who have historically played a significant role in India’s social fabric.
The Prime Minister also launched several technological initiatives to bolster the agricultural sector. One of the most prominent announcements was the launch of the Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and the indigenous sex-sorted semen technology. This new genomic chip initiative, which includes GAUCHIP for Indigenous cattle and MAHISHCHIP for buffaloes, is set to enhance the breeding of high-quality livestock through genotyping services. With the implementation of genomic selection, young bulls of superior genetic quality can now be identified at an early age.
The sex-sorted semen technology is expected to significantly benefit farmers by providing access to affordable sex-sorted semen, potentially reducing the cost of artificial insemination by Rs 200 per dose. This move is aimed at improving productivity and ensuring better livestock management across the country.
In a move to promote sustainable farming practices, Prime Minister Modi dedicated five solar parks with a combined capacity of 19 MW under the Maharashtra State Krishi Vidyut Yojana 2.0 (MSKVY 2.0). These solar parks are part of an initiative to ensure daytime electricity for farmers, reducing dependency on traditional energy sources and providing a cleaner, more sustainable alternative.
The event also saw the inauguration of 9,200 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), aimed at enabling small and marginal farmers to pool their resources and better access the market. Additionally, PM Modi e-distributed awards under the KUSUM-C scheme, which promotes solar power for irrigation, to support 3,000 MW of energy generation capacity, providing farmers with affordable energy solutions.
In his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the government’s unwavering commitment to the agricultural sector. “Our goal is not just to provide financial aid, but to ensure that farmers have access to the latest technology and sustainable energy resources,” he said. “Through initiatives like PM-KISAN, Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi, and renewable energy projects, we aim to strengthen the backbone of India’s economy—our farmers.”
PM Modi’s visit to Maharashtra, marked by these landmark initiatives, underscores the government’s continued focus on transforming the agricultural landscape, providing economic support, and promoting innovation in farming practices.
