Odisha’s Farmers Receive Rs 684 Crore Boost in PM-KISAN; CM Majhi Urges e-KYC Completion and Crop Diversification
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar:The 22nd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was released on March 13, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the disbursement from Guwahati, Assam. Under this flagship initiative, eligible farmers receive Rs.6,000 annually in three equal instalments of ₹2,000 each, transferred directly to their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Nationwide, approximately 9.32 crore farmers benefited from the 22nd instalment, receiving nearly Rs.19,000 crore in total financial support. In Odisha, more than 34 lakh farmers received Rs.684 crore as part of this instalment.
Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi Leads State-Level Event
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi addressed farmers at the state-level PM-KISAN Utsav event held at the OUAT (Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology) campus in Bhubaneswar.
He described farmers as the “backbone of our economy” and the “true charioteers of our society,” emphasising that national or state progress is impossible without their upliftment.
The Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the PM-KISAN scheme in helping farmers purchase seeds, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs. He noted that while Rs.2,000 per instalment (Rs.6,000 annually) may seem modest to some, it represents significant recognition and support for small and marginal farmers’ hard work.
CM Majhi urged all eligible farmers in Odisha to fulfill the scheme’s mandatory criteria — including e-KYC, land record updates, Aadhaar linkage with bank accounts, and name corrections as per Aadhaar — to ensure they receive full benefits without interruption.
He also spotlighted the state’s complementary **CM-KISAN scheme**, which provides an additional ₹4,000 annually (in two installments) to eligible farmers. Over 51.54 lakh beneficiaries have received more than ₹2,991 crore under this initiative so far, including support for more than 3,236 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) farmers and 31,695 farmers from urban areas.
Additionally, the CM praised the **Krushi Vidya Nidhi** scholarship program under CM-KISAN, which supports children of beneficiary families pursuing professional courses like medicine, engineering, agriculture, nursing, diplomas, and ITI programs. In the 2024-25 academic year, 13,923 students received Rs53.67 crore — five times more than the previous year. For 2025-26, a record 68,915 students have applied, with Rs.290 crore earmarked for scholarships.
Focus on Crop Diversification and Future Challenges;
The Chief Minister called on farmers to diversify beyond paddy cultivation into pulses, vegetables, fruits, and cash crops, leveraging Odisha’s fertile soil to boost agricultural exports and double farmers’ incomes in collaboration with the central government. He stressed the need for innovation, climate-resilient practices, digital solutions, and community-based approaches to address challenges like climate change, erratic weather, water scarcity, and soil degradation.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo also spoke at the event, urging farmers who missed earlier installments to complete Aadhaar-bank linkage and land record submissions.
He highlighted Odisha’s strong crop performance this year, exceeding national averages, and thanked PM Modi and CM Majhi for approving new agricultural colleges in Mayurbhanj and Balangir districts, as well as a fisheries college in Sonepur.
The program was attended by local MLAs, senior officials from the Agriculture Department, OUAT Vice-Chancellor, and other dignitaries.
Source;pragativadi
