In the recent news, the Prime Minister has released the 9th instalment of financial benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. During this event, the Prime Minister also interacted with the beneficiaries who are farmers.
About PM-KISAN Scheme
The PM-KISAN scheme is an initiative established by the government to provide financial assistance to all landholding farmers across India. Each farmer is eligible to receive an amount of Rs 6,000 per year, distributed in three equal instalments. The beneficial aspect of this scheme is that it directly transfers the amount into the bank accounts of the farmers, regardless of their landholding size. This scheme was launched in February 2019.
Funding and Implementation of PM-KISAN Scheme
The PM-KISAN scheme comes under the Central Sector Scheme with the entire funding provided by the Government of India. The responsibility of implementing this scheme is entrusted to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
Identification of Beneficiaries of PM-KISAN Scheme
The task of identifying the beneficiary farmers falls under the jurisdiction of the State/ UT Governments. The objective of this scheme is to satiate the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers, ensuring proper crop health and suitable yields corresponding with the expected farm income at the end of each crop cycle.
Objectives of PM-KISAN Scheme
The scheme aims to protect farmers from the claws of moneylenders for meeting such expenses and ensure their continuance in farming activities.
Highlights of the Prime Minister’s Address
During his address, the Prime Minister announced the launch of the National Edible Oil Mission-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), aiming to make India self-reliant in terms of edible oil. He also highlighted that India has made its place among the top-10 countries globally in terms of agricultural exports.
Indian Agricultural Policies and Initiatives
The Prime Minister emphasized that small farmers are now prioritized in the country’s agricultural policies. He underlined that initiatives such as Food Parks, Kisan Rails, and Kisan Infrastructure Fund aim to support small farmers by increasing their access to markets and enhancing their bargaining power through Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs).
New Agricultural Initiatives
The Prime Minister also mentioned other prominent initiatives including Mission Honey-Bee and promoting Jammu & Kashmir’s saffron in NAFED shops. He asserted that Indian agriculture and farmers will significantly influence India’s condition when the country marks 100 years of independence in 2047.
Other Initiatives for Farmers
Includes National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme, Rashtriya Gokul Mission, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.