Page 21 - NIS English 1-15 Feb, 2026

Agri & Farmers’ Welfare | COVER STORY

A Safety Cover for

Farmers’ Lives

Kisan Credit Card
n The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was
extended to animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries
in 2019. In the 2025-26 budget, the loan limit was
increased from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh

More crore farmers, fishermen, and
Than dairy farmers are benefiting from
7.7 the Kisan Credit Card.

Over
₹10 lakh crore in loans and over ₹1.62
lakh crore in interest subsidies have
been provided to Kisan Credit Card
beneficiaries in 2024-25.
PM-Maan Dhan
Farmer Producer Organizations n The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana
n More than 10,000 FPOs have empowered farmers is a voluntary and contributory pension scheme
across India. 52 lakh farmers across the country have for the age group of 18 to 40 years. It provides
joined FPOs by October 2025. a minimum assured monthly pension of ₹3,000
at the age of 60 years.
n 1,100 FPOs have become crorepati, registering a
turnover of over ₹15,000 crore. A budget of ₹6,800 n 24.88 lakh enrollments have been made under
crore has been allocated till FY 2027-28. the scheme till July 2025.

Marketing and Development of Shree Anna (Millets)

n The year 2023 was declared the second-highest increase at ₹596 per quintal.
International Year of Millets. By May
2025, the Cabinet approved the Minimum n India produced 180.15 lakh tonnes of
Support Price (MSP) for Ragi for the millets and exported over 89,000 tonnes
marketing season 2025-26, which is the in 2024-25. Rajasthan led in production,
followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka.

increased by more than 640 Lakh metric tons. Today, Crore soil health cards have been distributed to
India is the world’s number one producer of milk, the farmers, and micro-irrigation facilities have reached
second-largest producer of fish. India now produces 100 Lakh hectares of land. Farmers have received
almost double the amount of honey compared to approximately two lakh crores rupees in payments
11 years ago. Six or seven years ago, honey exports under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. More
were worth approximately ₹450 crore, but recently, than 10,000 Farmer-Producer Organizations (FPOs)
exports exceeded ₹1,500 crore. A three-fold increase have also been formed in the last 11 years.
means a three-fold benefit for farmers.
Egg production has also doubled in the last 11 THE JOURNEY OF NEW INDIA: A
years. During this period, six large fertilizer factories PROSPEROUS FARMER
have been established in the country. More than 25 In 1947, when India gained independence, one of

February 1-15, 2026 || NEW INDIA SAMACHAR 19