Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to farmer welfare, stating that ensuring every eligible farmer receives full benefits of all schemes remains the top priority. The Chief Minister was addressing farmers at the Krushi Bhavan in Bhubaneswar during the state-level release of the 21st instalment of PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the instalment from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, releasing over ₹18,000 crore to more than 9 crore farmers across the country. The programme was simultaneously organised at district, block, panchayat, PACS and mandi levels nationwide, with the Prime Minister addressing farmers from various states.
Speaking at the Odisha event, Chief Minister Majhi noted that the Centre provides ₹6,000 per year under PM-KISAN in three instalments to support timely purchase of seeds, fertilisers and pesticides. Under the latest instalment, 34.12 lakh farmers in Odisha are receiving ₹2,000 each, delivered through a transparent system that benefits small, marginal, large and even urban farmers.
He added that under the state’s CM-KISAN scheme, farmers get an additional ₹4,000 per year in two instalments. In the current financial year, ₹2,991 crore has been transferred to 51.54 lakh farmers, including 3,236 PVTG farmers and 31,695 urban farmers.
Highlighting the state’s focus on education, the Chief Minister said children of CM-KISAN beneficiaries are receiving scholarships for higher and technical education under the Krushi Vidyanidhi Yojana. In 2024–25, 13,923 students have availed scholarships worth ₹53.67 crore, a fivefold increase from the previous year.
Majhi also thanked the Prime Minister for including Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Sundargarh and Nuapada districts under the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
Several farmers — including Subash Chandra Das of Balianta, Rupashree Swain of Balipatna and Kartik Parida of Kusumati (Jatni) — shared how PM-KISAN support had strengthened their farming activities. The Chief Minister interacted with them and encouraged diversification into oilseeds, vegetables, fruits and other cash crops along with paddy. He assured continued government support to enhance productivity and farm income.
Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo said farmers in Odisha now receive ₹10,000 per year through the combined PM-KISAN and CM-KISAN benefits. Proper use of this financial support, he said, can significantly reduce hardship and improve agricultural outcomes. He added that Odisha’s farmer-welfare initiatives have been praised at the national level, with the Union Agriculture Minister urging other states to adopt Odisha’s model.
OUAT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Pravat Kumar Roul emphasised that while farmers have land and labour, they often lack capital. PM-KISAN, he said, helps bridge this gap, boosting their financial resilience and confidence.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department, Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, welcomed participants. A large number of farmers from Khordha district attended the event.
