"Centre ensured that rising fertiliser prices did not burden farmers," says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

New Delhi [India], October 11 (ANI): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated on Saturday that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government ensured that the surge in global fertiliser prices did not impact Indian farmers.
"A bag of urea continues to be available at just Rs 266, and DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) at Rs 1,350, due to massive government subsidies," he said at an event held at Pusa, Delhi, where PM Modi unveiled a series of transformative initiatives for India's agriculture and allied sectors.
The Union Minister also noted that the reduction in GST on agricultural machinery has made modern equipment more affordable for farmers across the nation.
Chouhan highlighted that the Central government has significantly increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for major crops: by Rs 160 per quintal for wheat, Rs 200 or more for gram, Rs 300 for lentil, Rs 250 for mustard, and Rs 600 for sunflower.
The Union Agriculture Minister also stated that under the 'PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi', Rs 3.90 lakh crore have been directly transferred into farmers' bank accounts. Through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, loans worth over Rs 10 lakh crore were disbursed in FY 2024-25, alongside interest subsidies of Rs 1.62 lakh crore. The 'Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana' provided compensation exceeding Rs 1.83 lakh crore to insured farmers.
Highlighting the success of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Shri Chouhan said that over 52 lakh farmers are now shareholders in FPOs, with 1,100 FPOs achieving 'crorepati' status and collectively recording a turnover exceeding Rs 15,000 crore. The Agriculture Ministry continues to extend innovation, branding, and market linkage support to these organisations.
The Union Minister reiterated that the government is working to position Indian agriculture on global standards while driving the nation towards 'Atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) and 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India). He appealed to citizens to embrace Swadeshi and contribute to the nation's growth.
Praising the Prime Minister's visionary leadership, Chouhan said, "Under Prime Minister Modi's guidance, we are committed to fulfilling the dream of a developed, self-reliant India, built on the foundation of farmers' prosperity, indigenous enterprise, and innovation."
Prime Minister Modi interacted directly with groups of farmers engaged in pulses cultivation, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, and fisheries, discussing their challenges and innovations. The occasion also marked tributes to eminent social reformers, such as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh, on their respective birth anniversaries.
The launch of the 'Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' and the 'Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission' marks a major milestone in India's agricultural journey. The 'PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' is a coordinated initiative involving 36 sub-schemes across 11 ministries, designed to accelerate agricultural progress in aspirational districts. The 'Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission' aims to make India self-sufficient in pulses production, reducing dependence on imports in light of rising domestic demand. (ANI)