In a significant boost to agricultural welfare, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 21st instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, benefiting over 9 crore farmers nationwide with more than 18,000 crore rupees.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, addressing farmers at the state-level event in Krushi Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, reiterated his commitment to ensuring every eligible farmer receives full benefits from government schemes without exclusion.
The PM Kisan initiative provides annual financial assistance of 6,000 rupees in three instalments to help farmers purchase seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides. In this latest tranche, over 34.12 lakh farmers in Odisha are set to receive 2,000 rupees each, with the process conducted transparently to include small, medium, large, and landless farmers. CM Majhi highlighted how the scheme, along with state-level programs, is empowering farmers, the poor, and women across the country.
Complementing the central scheme, Odisha’s CM Kisan Yojana offers an additional 4,000 rupees annually in two instalments. This financial year, 51.54 lakh farmers have received 2,991 crore rupees under the program, including 3,236 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) farmers and 31,695 sharecroppers. Majhi emphasised the government’s focus on farmer empowerment and welfare as a top priority.
Under the Krishi Vidya Nidhi Yojana, which supports higher and technical education for children of CM Kisan beneficiaries, 13,923 students received scholarships worth 53.67 crore rupees in the 2024-25 academic year—a fivefold increase compared to the previous year.
The CM also expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for selecting Odisha’s Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, and Nuapada districts under the PM Dhan Dhanya Krushi Yojana, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity.
During the event, farmers from Khordha district, including Subash Chandra Das from Balianta, Rupashree Swain from Balipatna, and Kartik Parida from Kusumati in Jatni, shared their success stories of utilising PM Kisan funds effectively for farming. Majhi engaged with them, encouraging crop diversification by incorporating oilseeds, vegetables, and fruits alongside paddy to boost income. He assured full government support for increasing farmer productivity and empowerment.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, noted that combined with PM Kisan, Odisha farmers receive 10,000 rupees annually, which, if used wisely, can eliminate poverty and drive agricultural success. He mentioned that the Union Agriculture Minister has praised Odisha’s farmer welfare initiatives as a model for others.
OUAT Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Prabhat Raula underscored the importance of capital alongside land and labour for farming, stating that PM Kisan provides crucial financial and mental strength to farmers.
The program was attended by Principal Secretary of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, who welcomed participants, along with numerous farmers from Khordha district.
This event underscores the collaborative efforts between central and state governments to uplift India’s agrarian community, ensuring sustainable growth and inclusivity.
