Thu Jan 02 05:09:55 UTC 2025: ## Modi Govt Extends Key Farmer Support Schemes, Boosting Agricultural Sector
**New Delhi, [Date of Publication]** – The Indian government has announced a significant boost to its agricultural sector, extending crucial farmer support schemes and providing continued subsidies on essential fertilizers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Union Cabinet’s decisions as a testament to the government’s commitment to farmer welfare.
Key highlights of the cabinet decisions include:
* **Extension of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme:** These schemes, providing crucial risk coverage for farmers against crop losses due to natural calamities, will continue until 2025-26, with a total outlay of ₹69,515.71 crore. A new ₹824.77 crore Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) will also be established to enhance the schemes through technological advancements like YES-TECH (yield estimation using remote sensing) and WINDS (improved weather data network).
* **Continued Subsidy on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP):** A one-time special package ensuring affordable DAP prices for farmers will be extended from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025, with a tentative budgetary requirement of up to ₹3,850 crore.
The government emphasized its efforts to ensure all farmers, particularly in the northeastern states, benefit from these schemes. Flexibility has been granted to these states to manage funds effectively given the voluntary nature of the schemes and lower gross cropped areas.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami both praised the cabinet decisions, highlighting their positive impact on farmer income and agricultural production. The extensions are expected to provide farmers with greater financial security and contribute to increased agricultural output across the country.
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