Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 20th installment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, disbursing over ₹20,500 crore via DBT to over 9.7 crore farmers across India from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. In Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai virtually joined the program from the auditorium of the Horticultural and Forestry University in Raipur, connecting with the state’s farmers.
Addressing the large farmers’ conference, the Prime Minister stated that since 2019, ₹3.75 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ accounts under the Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The Prime Minister emphasized the government’s continuous efforts for the prosperity of farmers, citing the PM Kisan Nidhi as a strong example. He also announced the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhan Yojana for districts lagging in agricultural development, with a provision of ₹24,000 crore.
The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s significant investment in irrigation projects to ensure water access to fields and boost production. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides relief to farmers during natural calamities. He also emphasized women’s economic empowerment, mentioning that over 1.5 crore women have become Lakhpati Didis, with half the work completed towards a target of 3 crore.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai extended greetings for the holy month of Shravan and sought blessings from Lord Mahadev for Chhattisgarh’s continuous welfare, prosperity, and happiness. He announced that approximately 25 lakh farmers in Chhattisgarh have received ₹553.34 crore under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Chief Minister Sai thanked Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the state’s residents, acknowledging the economic support provided to farmers.
Chief Minister Sai affirmed that the government is dedicated to farmers’ progress, as promised. He highlighted that farmers in Chhattisgarh are currently receiving ₹3100 per quintal for paddy, strengthening their income. Within ten days of forming the government, ₹3716 crore of pending bonus amount for 2 years was disbursed, reinforcing the trust in farmers. He noted that the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, initiated under former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, transformed farming into a profitable venture, providing loans at zero interest rates, making agriculture more accessible.
The Chief Minister mentioned the rapid progress in increasing the irrigation area in the state. He stated that the government is working to make Bastar a well-irrigated and prosperous region through projects such as the Bodhghat project and linking the Mahanadi and Indravati rivers. Support of ₹10,000 has been provided to promote pulses and oilseed crops. Similarly, ₹10,000 is being provided to landless agricultural laborers.
The Chief Minister stated that the government is focusing on strengthening ancillary agricultural activities like fisheries, milk production, and animal husbandry. The milch animal distribution scheme has been launched as a pilot project in 6 districts, implemented through the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB). This will increase milk production, ensuring farmers receive fair prices. Sai also emphasized the promotion of nutritious grains like millets (Shree Anna), and traditional crops like Kodo, Kutki, and Ragi to ensure better market prices for Chhattisgarh’s farmers.
Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is consistently transferring funds to farmers under this scheme. He noted the construction of paved roads in every village and the availability of short-term loans to farmers without interest through the Kisan Credit Card. He stated that the government has implemented numerous schemes to benefit farmers.
Agriculture Development and Farmer Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam announced that under this scheme, the 20th installment of ₹553.34 crore has been transferred to the accounts of over 25.47 lakh farmers in Chhattisgarh. He stated that the Vishnu Deo Sai government is leading agriculture towards a new direction by using modern agricultural equipment and technologies, with the vision of Jai-Jawan, Jai-Kisan, Jai-Vigyan, and Jai-Anusandhan. The state-wide Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was conducted, where agricultural scientists, officers, and employees met over one lakh farmers to provide information on farming methods and their benefits.
Agricultural equipment and subsidy checks were distributed to beneficiaries at the event. MLAs Sunil Soni, Purandar Mishra, Guru Khushwant Saheb, Indrakumar Sahu, Raipur Division Commissioner Shri Mahadev Kawre, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation Ltd. Ajay Agarwal, Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Girish Chandel, Vice-Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Horticultural and Forestry University Dr. R.R. Saxena, and a large number of farmers were present at the program.