Winning Bizness Desk
Mumbai.Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 21st installment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme from Coimbatore on Wednesday, transferring more than ₹18,000 crore into the bank accounts of over nine crore farmers across the country. Addressing the gathering, he said the scheme has become a crucial support system for small and marginal farmers who depend on timely financial assistance for their cultivation needs. The PM added that the government has already sent more than ₹4 lakh crore to farmers since the scheme was launched and that total support worth ₹10 lakh crore has reached the farming community through various initiatives.
Focus on natural farming benefits
During his address, the Prime Minister strongly pitched for natural farming, calling it a method that aligns with both sustainability and rising global demand. He said that natural farming has helped India double its agricultural exports in recent years. Modi also made a light comment about farmers waving their towels, saying the atmosphere reminded him of Bihar. He highlighted that under PM-Kisan, small farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in three instalments of ₹2,000 each, which is directly transferred to their bank accounts.
Mid-story key points from the PM's speech included:
- Natural farming has become integral to India’s farm policies
- More than ₹4 lakh crore has been transferred under PM-Kisan so far
- Agricultural exports have doubled with sustainable practices
- Farmers from engineering and science backgrounds are adopting natural farming
- Tamil Nadu farmers have expanded natural farming across large land areas
Growing adoption of sustainable farming
Modi said Tamil Nadu has emerged as a major state where natural farming practices are rising rapidly, with nearly 35,000 hectares already under such cultivation. He also praised farmers who left corporate or engineering careers to take up farming and then trained others in advanced techniques. The Prime Minister noted that Karnataka and Kerala have taken the lead in multilayer farming, where crops such as coconut, chilli and other produce are grown simultaneously to maximise land use and profit.
Early release of installment for disaster-hit states
The Centre had already released the 21st installment earlier for some states due to natural calamities. Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh received the installment on September 26, 2025, to help farmers recover from flood and landslide damages. Jammu and Kashmir farmers were given the installment on October 7. The government issues PM-Kisan installments three times a year: between April-July, August-November, and December-March.
Pointers near the end of the report:
- 21st installment issued earlier for disaster-affected northern states
- Jammu and Kashmir farmers also received early payment
- Installments follow a structured April–March yearly cycle
- PM-Kisan remains one of India’s largest DBT schemes
- More than 10 crore farmers are currently enrolled
Background of PM-Kisan scheme
The PM-Kisan scheme was launched in February 2019 to provide annual financial assistance of ₹6,000 to eligible farmers through direct bank transfers. Modi had released the 20th installment on August 2 from Varanasi, sending ₹20.84 crore to 9.7 crore farmers. The scheme now covers more than 10 crore farmers nationwide and continues to remain a key pillar in the government’s agriculture support system.
