Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to release ₹20,000 crore for the 18th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme on Saturday, benefiting over 9.4 crore farmers nationwide. The disbursement will occur during an event in Washim, Maharashtra, where Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) will be utilized.
In addition to the PM-KISAN funds, farmers in Maharashtra will receive an extra ₹2,000 crore under the state’s Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. With this latest installment, the total amount disbursed under PM-KISAN will surpass ₹3.45 lakh crore, aiding more than 11 crore farmers across the country.
The PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, provides ₹6,000 annually to landholding farmers in three equal instalments. Maharashtra has been a significant beneficiary, receiving about ₹32,000 crore in 17 previous instalments, which has supported approximately 1.20 crore farmers.
During the event, PM Modi will unveil several initiatives, including indigenous sex-sorted semen production technology that aims to cut costs by around ₹200 per dose. He will also introduce a Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and buffalo, developed by the Animal Husbandry Department.
Furthermore, five solar parks with a total capacity of 19 MW will be dedicated to providing farmers with daytime electricity and additional income through land leasing. The event will also see the dedication of 9,200 Farmer Producers Organisations (FPOs) and the e-distribution of awards for 3,000 MW under the KUSUM-C schemes.
The event is expected to be attended by several dignitaries, including Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Approximately 2.5 crore farmers will participate in the celebrations via webcasts across various locations, with states and Union Territories observing the day as PM-KISAN Utsav Divas.