Gujarat farmers receive over Rs 23,000 crore through PM-KISAN scheme
Gandhinagar, June 9
More than 69 lakh farmer families in Gujarat have received direct financial assistance exceeding Rs 23,083 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme since its launch, highlighting the programme's growing reach among cultivators in the state.
According to official data, a total of 69.25 lakh farmer families in Gujarat have benefited from the scheme across 22 instalments, with funds transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
The latest, 22nd instalment saw more than 50.54 lakh farmer families in the state receive assistance of over Rs 1,010 crore.
When the scheme was launched, over 28.65 lakh farmers in Gujarat received Rs 572.21 crore in the first instalment.
The figures were highlighted as Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 12 years in public office at the national level.
Across India, the PM-KISAN scheme has disbursed more than Rs 4.27 lakh crore to over 11 crore farmers, providing income support to agricultural households.
Gujarat Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said the scheme had provided an economic safety net for farmers, particularly small and marginal landholders.
"The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has provided an economic security shield to the sons of the soil. This assistance enables small and marginal farmers to obtain financial support for essential agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers," he said.
Under the scheme, eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.
The assistance is intended to help farmers meet recurring agricultural expenses, particularly during sowing seasons when expenditure on seeds, fertilisers and pesticides increases.
Govindbhai Patel, a farmer from Dashela village in Gandhinagar district, said the payments helped him purchase farming inputs on time.
"The three instalments we receive directly into our bank accounts every year help us purchase fertilisers, seeds and medicines for farming on time. This amount allows us to sow crops such as groundnut and cotton without worry," he said.
Another farmer, Rameshbhai Patel, said the support was useful in managing day-to-day farming costs.
"Government schemes such as this provide strong support to farmers in meeting small expenses like labour, diesel and maintenance, helping them remain steadfast in farming," he said.
Officials said the scheme's implementation relies on a series of verification measures, including land record validation, Aadhaar-linked bank accounts and mandatory e-KYC, aimed at ensuring that assistance reaches eligible beneficiaries directly and transparently without the involvement of intermediaries.
— IANS
Reader Comments
My father is a small farmer in Gujarat and this scheme has genuinely helped him. Earlier he used to take loans from local moneylenders at high interest for seeds and fertilizers. Now with PM-KISAN, he can plan his sowing better. The DBT system also ensures no middlemen take a cut. Hats off to the government for reaching 69 lakh families. 🙏
This is impressive scale. 23,000 crore in Gujarat alone? That's roughly $2.8 billion USD. I'm a researcher looking at agri-subsidies across developing nations. India's DBT system for farmers is actually quite innovative compared to many countries where subsidies get lost in bureaucracy. Would be interesting to see how this compares with other states' implementation.
I appreciate the intent but the amount is too little. Rs 6,000 per year works out to just Rs 500 per month. A farmer with 2 acres of land spends at least Rs 10,000-15,000 per season on inputs. This amount covers maybe 10-15% of costs. Why not increase it to at least Rs 12,000 per year? Also, many tenant farmers and landless laborers are left out. Need to expand coverage. 🤔
My uncle in Saurashtra says this scheme is a lifeline. The money comes exactly when needed - before kharif sowing. Earlier he used to sell his gold ornaments to buy seeds. Now at least that pressure is reduced. But the real issue is water scarcity and crop insurance - those need more attention. PM-KISAN alone cannot solve all farmer problems. Good first step though. 🌾
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.