Over the past 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked tirelessly to secure the future of Indian farmers through comprehensive support and by integrating technology into the farmlands in the pursuit of Viksit Bharat. Through a carefully integrated set of schemes, the government has built a robust framework to ensure financial stability, water security, energy access, and infrastructure support for farmers. Programs like the Pradhan Mantri-Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), Rainfed Area Development (RAD), Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF), Natural Farming initiatives, and the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) work in harmony to address the diverse challenges farmers face. These schemes operate in tandem to create a resilient agricultural ecosystem, boosting incomes, reducing risks, and promoting sustainability.

The PM-KISAN scheme, launched in 2019, provides a steady income stream of Rs. 6,000 per year to over 11 crore farmers through three equal instalments. With more than Rs. 3.68 lakh crore disbursed across 19 instalments, it acts as a financial lifeline, enabling farmers to invest in seeds, equipment, or technologies like micro-irrigation under PDMC. This income support complements the Minimum Support Price (MSP) enhancements. This financial stability empowers farmers to adopt modern practices and improve productivity. A study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), focusing on farmers in Uttar Pradesh, highlighted that farmers who received these cash transfers were more likely to invest in essential farming needs, such as agricultural equipment, seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides.
To protect farmers from unpredictable crop losses, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), launched in 2016, offers comprehensive insurance coverage. Over eight years (2016-17 to 2023-24), 63.23 crore farmer applications were received, with claims worth more than Rs. 1.75 lakh crore paid against a farmer premium of Rs. 32,463 crore - a remarkable 5.4 times return on their investment. In the last five years alone (2019-20 to 2023-24), farmers paid around Rs. 19.5 lakh in premiums and received over Rs. 1 lakh crore in claims. This risk mitigation pairs seamlessly with the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), launched in 2020, which has sanctioned over Rs. 56,000 crore for 92,000 projects by January 2025, mobilising more than Rs. 86,500 crore in investments. AIF’s focus on farm-gate storage reduces post-harvest losses by up to 20%, enabling farmers to store produce longer and sell at better prices, thus amplifying PMFBY’s protective shield.

Water security is a cornerstone of sustainable farming, addressed through the Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) scheme and the Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF). Since 2015-16, PDMC has covered 96 lakh hectares with drip and sprinkler systems, supported by Rs. 22,000 crore released to states. The MIF, with its corpus doubled to Rs. 10,000 crore in 2021-22, has disbursed Rs. 3,700 crore in loans, promoting water-efficient irrigation. These initiatives have improved water use efficiency by 30-50% in covered areas, saving farmers Rs. 5,000-10,000 annually on energy and water costs per hectare.

The PM-KUSUM scheme is a game-changer, empowering farmers to become ‘urjadatas’ by harnessing solar energy. Over 9 lakh pumps have been installed, reducing diesel dependency and thus creating more savings and reducing the contribution towards greenhouse gas emissions in the farming sector. A single solar pump saves a farmer Rs. 50,000-70,000 annually on fuel, while surplus energy sales generate additional income. This shift to renewable energy not only cuts costs but also aligns with the government’s vision of a diesel-free agriculture sector.

For rainfed regions, the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) program, integrated into Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana since 2022, has covered 8 lakh hectares with Rs. 1,900 crore allocated. By improving soil health and productivity in water-scarce areas, RAD complements PDMC’s focus on irrigation efficiency. Similarly, Natural Farming initiatives like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) have covered nearly 60 lakh hectares, with Rs. 3,750 crore allocated over five years (2020-21 to 2024-25). The National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), approved in November 2024, targets 8 lakh hectares, promoting chemical-free farming that reduces input costs by 20-30% while fetching premium prices for organic produce.
All these schemes form a cohesive ecosystem. PM-KISAN and MSP ensure income stability, PMFBY mitigates risks, PDMC and MIF optimise water use, PM-KUSUM drives energy independence, RAD supports rainfed areas, and AIF strengthens infrastructure. Together, they can boost farmer incomes, which then could be used for investing in modern agricultural machinery. For example, a farmer benefiting from PM-KISAN, PMFBY, and PM-KUSUM could see their annual earnings increase from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 1.5 lakh, factoring in income support, insurance claims, and energy savings.

The Modi government’s multipronged approach has created a safety net that empowers farmers to thrive in a modern, sustainable agricultural landscape. By integrating financial support, risk protection, resource efficiency, and infrastructure development, these schemes ensure that India’s ‘annadatas’ are not only secure but also positioned as ‘urjadatas’, contributing to a Viksit Bharat. As these initiatives continue to evolve, they promise a future where farmers are resilient, self-reliant, and integral to the nation’s growth, feeding and powering India with confidence.