While interacting with beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme via video conferencing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded several farmers for their novel initiatives in the field of agriculture and farming.
One of the farmers, Arvind, who was part of the video-conferencing won the PM’s appreciation for providing training to young farmers of his region on organic farming and new farming techniques. Arvind is from Unnao, Uttar Pradesh.
Modi also lauded Patrick from Car Nicobar in Andaman and Nicobar Islands for doing large-scale organic farming. He praised the efforts made by N Vennurama from Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh for guiding more than 170 adivasi farmers of her region.
The PM appreciated Revistar from Meghalaya for producing spices like Ginger powder, turmeric, cinnamon, etc in the hilly areas of Meghalaya. He also interacted with Khurshid Ahmed from Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir who cultivates vegetables like capsicum, green chillies and cucumber organically.
Sharing his experience, Balasaheb Narare from Latur, Maharashtra told the PM that How Kisan Credit Card helped him to avail credit from bank and how it helped him to increase his farm production.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said for the first time, the farmers of West Bengal would be getting the benefit of this scheme. He lauded the efforts of the farmers who have made record produce in food grains and horticulture amidst the difficulties during this pandemic.
The PM said the Government is also setting new records in procurement at MSP every year. Paddy procurement at MSP had set new records and now wheat procurement at MSP is also setting new records. He added that so far this year, about 10 percent more wheat has been procured at MSP, compared to last year. So far, about Rs. 58,000 crores for wheat procurement has reached the farmers’ account directly.
Modi remarked that the Government is constantly trying to provide new solutions and new options in farming. Promoting organic farming is one of such efforts. Organic farming delivers more profit and is now being practiced across the nation by young farmers. He said that now organic farming is being practiced on both banks of Ganga and within a radius of about 5 kilometers, so that the Ganga remains clean.
The PM informed that due to COVID-19 pandemic, Kisan Credit Card’s deadline has been extended and instalments can now be renewed by 30 June. He said more than 2 crore Kisan Credit Cards have been issued in recent years. He said that this once in a century pandemic is challenging the world, as it is an invisible enemy in front of us. He said the Government is fighting COVID-19 with all its might and ensuring that every government department is working day & night to ease the pain of the nation.
On the occasion, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said Prime Minister’s efforts are always in the direction of good governance, improving lifestyle and doubling farmers’ income.
He added that under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi income-centric policies are being framed for the agriculture sector. Describing the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana as the most comprehensive scheme, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the focus on Gaon, Garib and Kisan and also for transferring more than Rs. 20 thousand crores to bank accounts of nearly 9.5 crore farmers under the PM Kisan.
The Minister also added that the Agriculture Ministry is putting all-around efforts to achieve 100% saturation under the PM Kisan scheme.