PM Modi launches two Diwali schemes worth Rs 35,440 crore for farmers, promising a change in their fortunes

Business News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major schemes worth Rs 35,440 crore for the agriculture sector. These include a pulses mission to reduce dependence on imports. The event was held to mark the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. He also inaugurated projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors and laid the foundation stone for other projects worth approximately Rs 815 crore.

Rs 11,440 crore will be spent on the 'Pulses Self-Reliance Mission' and its aim is to increase pulses production from the current 252.38 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by the crop year 2030-31 and reduce the country's import dependence.

Modi Unveils Transformative Agriculture Mission

Additionally, the ₹24,000 crore Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana aims to transform 100 underperforming agricultural districts. The scheme will focus on increasing productivity, promoting crop diversification, improving irrigation and storage, and providing easy access to credit in selected 100 districts. Both schemes have already received Cabinet approval and will run from the upcoming Rabi season until 2030-31.

These are also included

The projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister include Artificial Insemination Training Centres in Bengaluru and Jammu and Kashmir, Centres of Excellence in Amreli and Banas, an IVF laboratory in Assam under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, milk powder plants in Mehsana, Indore and Bhilwara and a fish feed plant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in Tezpur.

Modi Empowers Farmers With Schemes

During the event, Modi also presented certificates to farmers certified under the National Mission on Natural Farming, Maitri Technicians, and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) converted into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) and Common Service Centers (CSCs). The event marked significant achievements made under government initiatives, including 5 million farmer memberships in 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

PM Modi also interacted with pulse farmers who have benefited from various government schemes to establish value chains in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Chaudhary were present at the event.