Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 20 Jun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday asserted that more than eight lakh farmers in Uttarakhand have benefited from the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, under which an amount of over Rs 159 crore has been transferred directly into their bank accounts. He said farmers are the foundation of the country‘s prosperity and food security and play a vital role in the vision of a developed Uttarakhand.
The Chief Minister was addressing a programme organised at the Himalayan Cultural Centre, Garhi Cantt, here, on the occasion of Prime Minister Kisan Utsav Diwas as also release of the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme. He asserted that due to clear policies and honest intentions, Uttarakhand has secured the top position in the country in the field of farmers’ income growth. He credited this achievement to the hard work and contribution of farmers across the State.
During the event, Dhami watched the virtual broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing the latest instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) from West Bengal for farmers across the country.
Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, MLA Savita Kapoor, a large number of farmers from across the state, representatives associated with the agriculture sector and public representatives were also present on the occasion.
Congratulating the farmers of the State on the release of the 23rd instalment of the scheme, the CM said that the occasion marks another significant step towards the dignity, prosperity and empowerment of the farming community. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for ensuring that financial assistance under the PM-Kisan scheme is reaching crores of farmers directly in their bank accounts in a transparent manner.
Dhami said that around 10 crore farmers across the country have received financial assistance amounting to Rs 18,880 crore through DBT on Saturday alongside the state of Uttarakhand.
He noted that when the scheme was launched in 2019, around four lakh farmers in Uttarakhand were benefiting from it. The number has now increased to more than eight lakhs, which, he said, reflects growing confidence among farmers in the double-engine government and demonstrated that the benefits of welfare schemes were reaching the last person in the queue.
The CM added that while the nation’s security is safeguarded by soldiers stationed at the borders, its food security is strengthened by the hard work of the farmers in the fields. He remarked that a farmer does not merely cultivate crops but also contributes to shaping the future of the nation.
He said the Central government under the leadership of PM Modi has accorded the highest priority to the dignity, security and prosperity of farmers. Through the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, assistance is being provided to compensate losses caused by natural calamities, while the Soil Health Card Scheme is helping farmers improve productivity by providing scientific information about soil quality.
Dhami said efforts are being made to make agriculture more profitable through natural farming, modern agricultural technologies, expansion of irrigation facilities and several other initiatives. He added that the Uttarakhand Government is also working continuously to empower farmers and has taken the decision to make irrigation through canals completely free of cost in the state.
The Chief Minister said a provision of Rs 200 crore has been made in the state budget to increase farmers’ income. He informed that more than 350 modern polyhouses have been established in the state with an investment of nearly Rs 115 crore, helping farmers improve production and augment their earnings.
Referring to the challenges faced in hill agriculture, which largely depends on rainfall, Dhami said the government has approved the Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. The project aims to safeguard agriculture against the challenges posed by changing climatic conditions.
He said the State Government has introduced a new Apple Policy, Kiwi Policy, Dragon Fruit Policy and the State Millet Mission to promote fruit cultivation and diversify agricultural activities. Under these initiatives, farmers are being provided subsidies of up to 80 per cent.
The CM further stated that infrastructure such as cold chains, cold storages, controlled atmosphere storage facilities and mega food parks is being expanded to protect agricultural produce and provide farmers with better market access.
Highlighting efforts to make Uttarakhand a leading state in aromatic farming, he said the government has implemented the “Mehak Kranti” policy under which seven Aroma Valleys are being developed and aromatic plant cultivation is being promoted across 23,000 hectares.
Dhami also said that local products and millets from Uttarakhand are being promoted at national and international levels through the “House of Himalayas” brand, helping them gain wider recognition and market access. He claimed that the government is not merely launching schemes for farmers but is ensuring that their benefits reach genuine beneficiaries with complete transparency. He described farmers as the pride of the nation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to their welfare and prosperity.
Calling upon farmers to embrace modern technologies, scientific farming practices and government welfare schemes alongside traditional agriculture, Dhami urged them to actively contribute towards fulfilling the vision of a developed Uttarakhand.
