Mumbai, Oct 30 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday transferred Rs 1,835 crore to the bank accounts of 91,12,765 farmers in Maharashtra as part of the 24th instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, state government officials said here.
The funds were transferred during a programme addressed by Modi in Banaskantha in neighbouring Gujarat, in which Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took part virtually from his official residence ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai, a release from the CMO informed.
More than 85 per cent of the country’s farmers are small farmers, and around Rs 4 lakh crore has been transferred directly to their bank accounts under the PM-Kisan scheme so far, the release quoted Modi as saying.
Farmers have received or saved more than Rs 50 lakh crore over the past several years through various policies of the Union government, the PM informed.
The government had spent around Rs 16 lakh crore to ensure fertilisers remained affordable despite rising global prices, preventing the additional burden from falling on farmers, he added.
Wheat and paddy growers had received Rs 24 lakh crore through the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism over the past 12 years, while farmers had received more than Rs 2 lakh crore in compensation under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana over the past decade, the PM said.
Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, around 12 lakh solar pumps have been provided to farmers to reduce irrigation costs, resulting in more than 80 crore litres of diesel being saved, he said. Farmers are also benefiting from surplus electricity generation, the PM added.
The government had also made available around 3,000 new varieties of seeds suited to changing climatic conditions, he said.
Highlighting the importance of animal husbandry to the rural economy, Modi said the National Gokul Mission was promoting conservation of indigenous livestock and scientific breeding.
A nationwide free vaccination drive against foot-and-mouth disease had administered around 150 crore doses, benefiting the livestock of more than eight crore farmers, he said.
The average daily milk yield of cows and buffaloes in the country had increased from less than five litres in 2013-14 to around eight litres now, Modi added.
“The PM also urged citizens, particularly young people, to participate in the ‘Run for Unity’ event to be held on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,” the Maharashtra CMO release informed. PTI MR BNM
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