Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan scheme on June 20, transferring Rs 18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of more than 9.44 crore farmers across the country during a visit to West Bengal.The disbursement will take place in Tarakeswar in Hooghly district and will take the total amount transferred under the flagship income-support scheme since its launch in 2019 to over Rs 4.46 lakh crore, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Wednesday,as reported PTI.In West Bengal, over 45.35 lakh farmers will receive around Rs 907 crore under the latest instalment. With this transfer, cumulative payments under PM-Kisan in the state will cross Rs 15,055 crore.Chouhan said the funds would be credited through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, “strengthening the income security of small and marginal farmers”.The prime minister will also launch the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) in West Bengal, with a combined outlay of about Rs 12,200 crore.The government aims to provide crop insurance coverage to nearly 1.10 crore farmers across 30 lakh hectares during 2026-27, covering crops valued at around Rs 28,140 crore.As part of the Digital Agriculture Mission, Modi will launch an Agri-Tech platform offering a unified interface for fertiliser distribution, Kisan Credit Card services, DBT benefits and MSP-based government procurement.He will also launch the National Natural Farming Mission in the state. Under the programme, 346 natural farming clusters covering 17,300 hectares will be established in West Bengal during 2026-27. The initiative is expected to benefit 43,250 farmers through bio-based inputs, training and market linkages, supported by bio-resource centres and ‘Krishi Sakhis’.The prime minister will further launch the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana in Purulia, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Jhargram districts, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, promoting crop diversification and strengthening post-harvest infrastructure such as storage and processing facilities.During the visit, Modi will inaugurate 49 rural road projects worth over Rs 213 crore under PMGSY-III. The projects, covering more than 315 km, are expected to improve market access for farmers and enhance connectivity to schools and healthcare facilities in remote areas.More than one crore farmers are expected to join the programme virtually from across the country. West Bengal Governor RN Ravi, chief minister Suvendu Adhikari and Union ministers Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Shantanu Thakur and Sukanta Majumdar will also attend the event.
