Uttarakhand Empowers Farmers with Record Funding and Innovative Schemes

Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, revealed on Saturday that over Rs 3,300 crore has been allocated to the state's farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. This announcement comes as part of the scheme's 20th installment, with Prime Minister Modi transferring over Rs 20,500 crore to 9.70 crore farmers across India.

Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the various strides taken post-2014 towards improving farmer welfare. Initiatives such as increased minimum support prices, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, and the Soil Health Card scheme are all integral to enhancing farmers' income and resilience against natural calamities.

Further efforts to bolster State's agriculture include interest-free loans, subsidies on agricultural equipment, and free irrigation. With the introduction of the new apple, kiwi, millet, and dragon fruit policies, the government aims to push horticulture, backed by a substantial budget of Rs 1,200 crore.

(With inputs from agencies.)