Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to transfer more than Rs 22,700 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme to the bank accounts of over nine crore farmers nationwide on February 24.
The transfer will take place from Darbhanga, Bihar, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Sunday.
Speaking to the media at Patna Airport, Chouhan stated, "Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will visit Bihar and deposit more than Rs 22,700 crore of Kisan Samman Nidhi funds into the accounts of nine crore 80 lakh farmers across the country with a single click. The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi is a boon for small farmers."
The Union Minister also highlighted the upcoming discussion on the establishment of the Makhana Board, an initiative announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the recent Union Budget.
"Bihar is an extraordinary state. The talent here, the farmers, and especially the makhana (fox nut) are all remarkable. Currently, makhana farmers face many difficulties, and through technology, these problems will be addressed," Chouhan said.
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He further emphasised, "This is why the Makhana Board is being established. Because with the formation of the Makhana Board, our effort is to ensure that there is a discussion with makhana farmers first. Today, I will sit with the makhana farmers and have a conversation because no one can better tell us what needs to be done than them."
Finance Minister Sitharaman, in her Budget speech, had proposed the formation of a Makhana Board in Bihar. Makhana, or fox nuts, is widely cultivated and consumed in the state and has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
Under the One District One Product scheme, makhana producers have witnessed significant benefits. The Makhana Research Centre has also been accorded the status of a national institution.
"The Makhana Board will be established in Bihar to improve production, processing, value addition, and marketing of makhana. The people engaged in these activities will be organised into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The board will provide handholding and training support to makhana farmers and will also work to ensure they receive the benefits of all relevant government schemes," Sitharaman stated.
The Prime Minister has consistently prioritised securing better remuneration for farmers' produce.
In pursuit of this objective, on February 29, 2020, he launched the Central Sector Scheme for the Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to help farmers collectively market their agricultural produce.
Within five years, this commitment has been realised, with Modi marking the milestone of the formation of the 10,000th FPO in the country.
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