Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a financing facility of one lakh crore rupees under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund for agri-entrepreneurs, startups, agri-tech players and farmer groups for post-harvest management and nurturing farm assets. Only 30 days after the Cabinet formally approved the scheme, today the first sanction of over 1000 crore rupees was made to over 2,280 farmer societies. The event was conducted through a video conference and was attended by lakhs of farmers. Mr Modi also released the sixth installment of 17,000 crore rupees to more than 8.5 crore farmer beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said this fund will also provide debt financing facilities to farmers. He said, for post harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets, the fund will act as a catalyst. The Prime Minister also appealed to farmers to use fertilisers in lesser quantities.
Mr Modi said the objective of making farmers self sufficient is being fulfilled through the PM-KISAN scheme.
The Prime Minister said, this scheme provides a good opportunity for start-ups in agriculture to avail the benefits and scale their operations, thereby creating an ecosystem that reaches farmers in every corner of the country.
Mr Modi also interacted with farmers of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar was also present on the occasion.
