Lok Sabha Question No. 1960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Financial Strain faced by Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1960

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11 TH  March, 2025

## FINANCIAL STRAIN FACED BY FARMERS

1960. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण मंğी be pleased to state:

(a) the reasons for no change in allocation for the PM-KISAN Scheme from the last financial year, despite the growing financial strain faced by farmers due to rising input costs, climate challenges and economic pressures; (b) the manner in which the Government plans to ensure that the current allocation will be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for support from farmers under the PMKISAN Scheme, especially in light of ongoing challenges in the agriculture sector; (c)  the  manner  in  which  Government  intends  to  address  concerns  that  the  same allocation might not be adequate to cover all eligible farmers, especially as the number of beneficiaries continues to grow; and

(d) the manner in which the Government plan to further strengthen the PM-KISAN Scheme to provide more meaningful assistance to farmers, particularly those in rural and underserved regions given the current economic situation?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (d): The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019  by  the  Hon'ble  Prime  Minister  to  supplement  the  financial  needs  of  farmers owning cultivable land-holding. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000/- per year is transferred in three equal instalments, into the Aadhaar seeded bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

A farmer-centric digital infrastructure has ensured the benefits of the scheme reach all the farmers across the country without involvement of any intermediaries.

Maintaining  absolute  transparency  in  registering  and  verifying  beneficiaries,  the Government of India has disbursed over Rs 3.68 lakh Cr. in 19 installments since inception. The Government of India often undertakes saturation drives in coordination with the State Governments to ensure that no eligible farmers are left out from the Scheme. The major nationwide saturation drive was undertaken from 15th November, 2023, under the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra (VBSY), to saturate the scheme with all eligible farmers. More than 1.0 Cr. farmers were covered during the VBSY campaign across the country. Further, under the new Government's 100 days initiative, around 25 lakh more  eligible  farmers  were  added  under  the  PM-KISAN  scheme.  Additionally,  a special drive was conducted from 21 st  September 2024 to clear the self-registration pending cases. Under the drive since inception, over 30 lakh pending self-registration cases have been approved by the States/UTs so far. With these efforts, the benefits of the 19th Installment was released to more than 9.8 Cr. eligible beneficiaries.

The  International  Food  Policy  Research  Institute  (IFPRI)  conducted  an independent study in 2019. According to the study, funds disbursed under the PMKISAN have acted as a catalyst in rural economic growth, aided in alleviating the credit constraints of farmers, and increased investments in agricultural inputs. Further, the scheme has enhanced farmers' risk-taking capacity, leading them to undertake riskier but comparatively productive investments. The funds received by recipients under PMKISAN are not only helping them with their agricultural needs, but it is also catering to their other incidental expenses such as education, medical, marriage, etc. These are the indicators of the positive impact of the scheme on the farmers of the country. PM KISAN has truly been a game changer for the farming community of our country.

Presently, there is no proposal to increase benefit amount under PM-KISAN.

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