PM-KISAN: PM Modi to Release Rs 20,000 Crore 18th Installment Benefiting Over 9.4 Crore Farmers Nationwide

PM-KISAN 18th instalment: On October 5, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 18th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme in Washim, Maharashtra. This significant event will directly benefit over 9.4 crore farmers nationwide through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore, without any middlemen. The event will be graced by key dignitaries, including Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

The PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, provides Rs 6,000 annually to landholding farmers in three equal installments. With the 18th installment, total disbursements under the scheme will surpass Rs 3.45 lakh crore, benefiting more than 11 crore farmers. In Maharashtra alone, around 91.51 lakh farmers will receive over Rs 1,900 crore, contributing to the state's agricultural prosperity.

Alongside this, the Prime Minister will release an additional Rs 2,000 crore to Maharashtra farmers under the Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana, further supporting their agricultural efforts. This event will also mark the dedication of several projects completed under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a key initiative aimed at enhancing post-harvest management and farming infrastructure. Over 10,066 agri-infrastructure projects have been sanctioned nationwide, with over 7,516 already completed, strengthening the agricultural value chain.

In addition, the government’s Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for promoting 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) will be highlighted. Around 9,200 FPOs have already been formed, benefiting 24 lakh farmers, including women and marginalized communities. These FPOs have achieved a combined annual turnover of over Rs 1,300 crore, reinforcing India’s agricultural resilience.

The event will also see the launch of innovative technologies such as indigenous sex-sorted semen production and the ‘Gau Chip’ and ‘Mahish Chip’ genomic chips, which aim to enhance dairy farming efficiency.

Prime Minister Modi will lead the e-distribution of awards under the KUSUM-C (MSKVY 2.0) scheme, and dedicate five solar parks with a combined capacity of 19 MW, further supporting sustainable power solutions for farmers and contributing to their economic empowerment.