New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched a slew of initiatives worth Rs 23,300 crore aimed at bolstering the agricultural and animal husbandry sectors. The event in Washim, Maharashtra saw the disbursement of the 18th installment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi, amounting to Rs 20,000 crore, to 9.4 crore farmers, a PIB release stated.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi emphasized the government’s commitment to farmers’ welfare, stating that the state government strives to provide double benefits to them. He cited the example of the NaMo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, under which approximately Rs 1,900 crore has been provided to 90 lakh farmers in Maharashtra. He also highlighted the dedication of multiple projects related to Farmer Producer Organizations, worth hundreds of crores.
The Prime Minister dedicated 7,500 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), valued at over Rs 1,920 crore. These projects encompass custom hiring centers, primary processing units, warehouses, sorting and grading units, cold storage, and post-harvest management.
Further strengthening the agricultural infrastructure, PM Modi dedicated 9,200 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and launched five solar parks across Maharashtra.
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, praised PM Modi’s pro-farmer initiatives, highlighting the timely disbursement of Kisan Samman Nidhi and the introduction of 109 high-yielding new seed varieties. He also cited the government’s efforts in ensuring fair prices for farmers, mentioning the imposition of import duty on soybean oil and the reduction of export duty on onions.