PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that more than eight lakh farmers of Uttarakhand have received a sum of Rs 159 crore from the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN).
He was addressing a programme held on Saturday to mark the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Utsav Diwas in which the 23rd instalment of PMKSN was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the bank accounts of the farmers across the country. Congratulating the farmers of the State, the CM said that the occasion is an important step towards the respect, prosperity and empowerment of farmers.
Expressing gratitude to PM Modi and Union Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the CM said that through the PMKSN Yojana, financial assistance is being provided to crores of farmers across the country in a transparent manner. Dhami said that when this scheme was launched in 2019, approximately four lakh farmers in Uttarakhand were benefiting from it, which has now increased to over eight lakh. “This symbolises farmers’ growing trust in the double-engine government and demonstrates that the benefits of the schemes are reaching the last mile,’’ he said. While the nation’s security is ensured by soldiers deployed on the borders, the nation’s food security is strengthened by the hard work of farmers working in the fields. Farmers not only grow crops but also work to shape the nation’s future, he added.
The CM further said that under the leadership of PM Modi, the Central government has given top priority to the respect, security and prosperity of farmers. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana provides assistance in compensating for losses caused by natural disasters, while the Soil Health Card scheme provides information on soil quality to farmers to help them increase production.
He said that the Uttarakhand government is also working consistently to empower farmers of the State. Dhami said that more than 350 modern polyhouses have been constructed in the State with an investment of about Rs 115 crore. The CM said that in the mountainous areas where farming is dependent on rainfall, the Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-Fed Farming Project has been approved at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
He said that to promote fruit production, schemes such as the new Apple policy, Kiwi policy, Dragon Fruit policy and State Millet Mission have been implemented. Under these schemes, farmers are being provided subsidies of up to 80 per cent. Dhami said that facilities like cold chain, cold storage and mega food park are being expanded to protect the crops of farmers and provide them a better market.
He said that through the House of Himalayas brand, work is being done towards giving national and international recognition to the local products and millets of Uttarakhand.
