Modi to announce PM-KISAN agriculture scheme amid rural crisis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the latest instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme for agriculture in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Tuesday, according to an official statement.
The 17th instalment will include provision of estimated benefits of over Rs 20,000 crore to over 92 million farmers and the launch of Krishi Sakhi women self-help groups by distributing certificates to over 30,000 such self-help groups working as agriculture para-extension workers.
The scheme targets the stagnant agriculture sector. While nearly 50% of the labour force is employed in agriculture, the actual contribution of the sector to GDP is only 18-19%.
The agrarian crisis is further aggravated by climate change, lack of infrastructure, underemployment, land pressure and poverty. Also, apart from providing employment to a large part of the Indian population (over 70% of rural households are primarily dependent on agricultural income), the sector is also crucial for food security.
