Over ₹692.86 Crore Released to 34.64 Lakh Farmers in Odisha Under PM Kisan

Bhubaneswar/Rairangpur: More than 34 lakh farmers in Odisha received direct financial assistance under the latest installment of the PM Kisan Yojana on Friday as the Centre released funds to beneficiaries across the country under one of India’s flagship farmer support programmes.

The 23rd installment of the scheme was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district of West Bengal. Nationwide, financial assistance amounting to over ₹18,880 crore was transferred directly to the bank accounts of more than 9.44 crore farmers.

Of this, Odisha received over ₹692.86 crore, benefiting more than 34.64 lakh farmers across the state.

The PM Kisan Yojana provides eligible farmers with annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 in three equal installments to support agricultural expenses such as purchase of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and other essential farm inputs. Marking the occasion, the day was observed as Rashtriya Krushak Utsav Divas across the country and the state.

In Odisha, the state-level programme was organised by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment at Mahtab Bhawan Town Hall in Rairangpur, Mayurbhanj district.

Addressing farmers at the event, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Farmers’ Empowerment and Energy, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said Odisha continues to strengthen support for the farming community and highlighted that the state is procuring paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal, including during the Rabi season.

He also noted that farmers in Odisha have increasingly diversified into horticulture and have succeeded in exporting fruits and vegetables to international markets over the past two years, creating additional income opportunities.

Drawing attention to possible climatic challenges, Singh Deo cautioned farmers about the likelihood of an El Niño impact this year and advised them to adopt short-duration crop varieties to reduce risks and safeguard agricultural production.

He further encouraged farmers to increase cultivation of pulses and oilseeds in line with the broader goal of achieving self-reliance in agriculture. Assuring procurement support, he said the government would purchase these crops at Minimum Support Price to strengthen local production and reduce dependence on external supply.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Agriculture Department Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav urged all eligible farmers to register under the PM Kisan scheme and avail benefits available under the programme.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Agriculture Director Shubham Saxena and senior departmental officials were also present and interacted with farmers on various aspects of agricultural support initiatives.

The programme was simultaneously broadcast across Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural institutions and central and state agricultural universities across Odisha to maximise outreach among farming communities.