Agartala, June 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released the 23rd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme from a programme held in West Bengal, transferring financial assistance directly to farmers across the country.
Under the latest installment, around 9.44 crore farmers nationwide received a total benefit of Rs. 18,880 crore through direct benefit transfer into their bank accounts.
In Tripura, more than 2.16 lakh farmers received financial assistance amounting to Rs. 43.32 crore under the scheme, according to a government press release. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, along with Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath, MLA Mina Rani Sarkar and other officials, virtually participated in the programme from the State Agriculture Research Station at A.D. Nagar in Agartala.
Speaking to the media after the event, Dr. Saha said the state government remains committed to improving the socio-economic condition of farmers and increasing their income through various welfare and development initiatives.
He noted that in the 2018-19 financial year, Rs. 30.37 crore was transferred to the accounts of approximately 1.51 lakh farmers in Tripura under the PM-Kisan scheme. Since then, the number of beneficiaries and the amount of financial assistance have increased significantly.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the development of villages depends largely on the prosperity of farmers. He recalled that many farmers were previously burdened by debt and financial uncertainty. Schemes such as PM-Kisan have been introduced to provide direct support and reduce financial stress on farming communities.
Dr. Saha further stated that since 2018, the state government has implemented several programmes aimed at doubling farmers’ income and ensuring sustainable agricultural growth. He highlighted that more than Rs. 529 crore has been transferred directly to farmers through paddy procurement initiatives.
He also credited schemes such as PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and Krishi Vikas Yojana for improving agricultural productivity and boosting farmers’ earnings.
The government has also focused on improving soil fertility and agricultural infrastructure. More than 2.53 lakh Soil Health Cards have been distributed across the state, while agricultural machinery worth Rs. 233.63 crore has been provided to farmers under various subsidy schemes.
The programme was attended by representatives of local self-government institutions and senior officials of the Agriculture Department.
