The government on Friday released ₹20,667.75 crore to over 9.5 crore farmers, including 20 lakh farmers from West Bengal who recently enrolled for the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan).

Attending a virtual event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the instalment directly to the accounts of farmers with the  click of a button. While for many, this was eighth instalment of PM-Kisan scheme, for over 20 lakh farmers from West Bengal, which recently joined the scheme, this was the very first instalment of ₹2,000, which would be paid every four months.

Modi also told farmers that the government has decided to extend the deadline for renewal and instalment of Kisan Credit Cards till June 30 because of Covid-19 pandemic.

‘All-India covered’

“With West Bengal joining the scheme, I can happily say that farmers from all over the country are part of this scheme,” said Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, also present at the virtual meeting. He said till date,  ₹1.16-lakh crore has been given to all eligible farmers in the country since it was launched in February 2019.

Modi said he was happy to see that farmers from West Bengal are getting their first instalment of PM-Kisan scheme, which he said would be of much help  to small and marginal farmers. In these days of hardship, the  scheme is of great value for farmers, the Prime Minister said adding that he was happy that the government could distribute it to farmers just ahead  of the new crop year.

Interaction with farmers

Modi also interacted with selected six beneficiaries of the PM-Kisan scheme. He appreciated Arvind Nishad from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh for training young farmers  in organic farming and new farming techniques; Patrick from Car Nicobar for doing large-scale organic farming. Modi similarly  N Vennurama from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh for guiding more than 170 adivasi farmers; Revistar Kharumnuid from Meghalaya for producing spices such as ginger powder, turmeric, and cinnamon;  Khurshid Ahmed from Srinagar who cultivates vegetables  organically.

According to Modi, the government has been able to distribute as much as ₹1.35-lakh crore under the scheme so far, of which ₹60,000 crore was distributed during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, farmers  have been able to produce record output of foodgrains and horticultural crops.

‘Procurement up’

The government has been breaking its own records by procuring more and more rice and wheat every year. During the current rabi marketing season, Modi said, the procurement of wheat has already been 10 per cent more than what it procured last year.

Modi reminded farmers and others living in rural areas about the need for following all Covid-appropriate measures as the infection is slowly spreading to rural areas.

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