PM to release Rs 20,000 cr under PM-Kisan today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release Rs 20,000 crore as the 18th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme on Saturday, benefiting over 9.4 crore farmers across the country.

Disbursements will be through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) during an event in Washim, Maharashtra, an official statement said. Maharashtra farmers will receive an additional Rs 2,000 crore under the state's Namo Shetkari Mahasanman Nidhi Yojana. With the 18th instalment, the total amount disbursed under PM-KISAN will exceed Rs 3.45 lakh crore, supporting more than 11 crore farmers nationwide.

The PM-KISAN scheme, launched on February 24, 2019, provides Rs 6,000 annually to landholding farmers in three equal instalments. Maharashtra has received about Rs 32,000 crore in 17 instalments, benefiting around 1.20 crore farmers, the second highest among all states. Around 91.51 lakh farmers in Maharashtra will receive over Rs 1,900 crore in the 18th instalment. Modi will also launch an indigenous sex-sorted semen production technology, aimed at reducing costs by approximately Rs 200 per dose.

The Prime Minister will introduce a Unified Genomic Chip for cattle and buffalo, developed by the Animal Husbandry Department. Five solar parks with 19 MW capacity will be dedicated under the MSKVY 2.0 scheme, providing farmers daytime electricity and additional income through land leasing.