Finance
Farmers are the backbone of society and the true drivers of the economy, according to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who spoke to farmers at a state-level programme held at the Krushi Siksha Sadan on Friday to commemorate PM Kisan Utsav Divas and the disbursement of the 22nd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi.
The programme was organized following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationwide launch of the 22nd installment from Guwahati. The latest tranche of approximately ₹19,000 crore has been released to nearly 9.32 lakh farmers throughout the country.
Addressing the gathering, Majhi said the slogan “Jai Kisan” becomes meaningful only when farmers progress, emphasising that the development of both the state and the nation is impossible without the growth of the farming community.
He said that the PM-Kisan initiative assists farmers in purchasing seeds, fertilizer, and other agricultural supplies. The ₹2,000 installment—₹6,000 annually in three installments—may appear tiny to some, but it represents tremendous help and recognition for small farmers, he continued.
In Odisha, around 34.24 lakh eligible farmers received the ₹2,000 installment, resulting in a total financial assistance of ₹684 crore under the 22nd installment.
The Chief Minister advised farmers to complete mandatory criteria like as e-KYC, Aadhaar-bank account linkage, land record verification, and name correction in accordance with Aadhaar to ensure they enjoy the scheme’s benefits uninterrupted.
Majhi also emphasized the state government’s CM-Kisan Yojana, which provides qualified farmers with ₹4,000 annually in two installments. Over 6 lakh more beneficiaries have been added to the plan. More than ₹2,991 crore has been distributed to 51.54 lakh beneficiaries, including 3,236 farmers from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) and 31,695 farmers from urban areas.
He also discussed the Krishi Vidya Nidhi scholarship program, which assists children of CM-Kisan beneficiaries in pursuing professional and vocational courses such as medical, engineering, agriculture, nursing, diploma, and ITI programs at institutions both within and outside the state.
The 2024-25 academic year saw 13,923 students earn ₹53.67 crore in scholarships, a five-fold increase from the year before. For the 2025-26 academic year, 68,915 students have already applied, with the government planning to offer ₹290 crore in scholarships, marking an all-time record.
Majhi also emphasized the importance of agricultural diversification, asking farmers to go beyond paddy farming to include pulses, vegetables, fruits, and other cash crops. He stated that Odisha’s lush land has huge potential for agricultural exports if handled properly.
The Chief Minister cautioned of emerging issues like as climate change, variable weather patterns, water scarcity, and soil erosion, emphasizing the importance of climate-resilient agriculture, innovation, digital solutions, and group-based agricultural models in guaranteeing a sustainable food system.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo announced that the first PM-Kisan installment of the year had been distributed and asked farmers who missed the 22nd installment to complete Aadhaar-bank linkage and land record verification to obtain help.
He also complimented Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Majhi for sanctioning the development of new agricultural colleges in Mayurbhanj and Balangir districts, as well as a fisheries college in Sonepur, to help boost the agricultural education system.
Other attendees at the event included Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh, Khurda MLA Prashant Jagdev, Agriculture Department Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Vice-Chancellor of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology Prof. Prabhat Kumar Roul, Director of Agriculture and Food Production Shubham Saxena, and Khurda Collector Amrut Ruturaj.
