Bhubaneswar: More than 35.38 lakh eligible farmers in Odisha received Rs 707.60 crore as part of the 24th instalment of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide disbursement from a programme held at Banaskantha in Gujarat. More than 9.34 crore farmers received financial assistance totalling Rs 18,690 crore across the country.
Under the latest instalment, Rs 2,000 each has been transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
In Odisha, a state-level programme was organised at the Krushi Shiksha Sadan of Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, and several MLAs attended the programme and watched the live telecast of the Prime Minister’s address.
The Chief Minister also interacted directly with farmers from different parts of Odisha.
Speaking on the occasion, Majhi said the Centre has introduced several initiatives to strengthen farmers financially and ensure their rightful benefits. The Chief Minister said the state government is taking steps to ensure that no eligible farmer in Odisha is deprived of PM-KISAN benefits.
He urged farmers who had not yet registered to visit their nearest revenue or agriculture office and complete their registration on the AgriStack portal.
Highlighting state-led interventions, Majhi said the CM-Kisan scheme, which provides Rs 4,000 annually to small and marginal farmers and Rs 12,500 in livelihood assistance to landless agricultural families, including urban and vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).
Under the complementary Krushi Vidyanidhi scholarship program—designed to support higher education for children of CM-Kisan beneficiaries in medical, engineering, and agricultural fields—scholarship distribution saw a historic leap. Beneficiary student numbers rose from 13,923 (Rs 53.69 crore) in 2024–25 to an all-time high of 68,910 students receiving Rs 291.60 crore in 2025–26, marking a nearly fivefold increase.
Additionally, under the Samruddha Krushak Yojana, the state continues to procure paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal, resulting in record farmer registrations this season.
Addressing recent crop damage caused by heavy rainfall, floods, and Cyclone ‘Arnab’, the Chief Minister assured farmers that comprehensive assessments are underway. “No matter what adversity strikes, the government stands shoulder to shoulder with you in your times of trial. Proper compensation will be disbursed swiftly according to the guidelines,” Majhi affirmed.