Over 51 Lakh Odisha Farmers Receive Financial Aid Under CM-KISAN Scheme

In a move that brought cheer to farming households across Odisha, the state government disbursed the third installment of the Chief Minister’s Krushak Income Support Assistance (CM-KISAN) scheme on Wednesday. Over 51 lakh farmers received direct financial assistance as part of this initiative, strengthening their ability to invest in the upcoming agricultural season.

Direct Aid to Farmers’ Accounts

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced the transfer of Rs 2,000 each into the bank accounts of 51,54,115 beneficiaries, amounting to Rs 1,041 crore in financial support. The timing of the release coincided with Nuakhai, the harvest festival celebrated in western Odisha, adding cultural significance to the economic relief.

The CM-KISAN scheme provides Rs 4,000 annually to eligible farmers—distributed in two installments of Rs 2,000 each during Akshaya Tritiya and Nuakhai. This direct cash support is designed to reduce financial pressure on farmers while preparing for major crop cycles.

Part of a Wider Support Network

The Chief Minister highlighted that this was not a standalone effort, but part of a comprehensive network of farmer welfare schemes. These include:

• Samrudha Krushaka Yojana: Farmers receive Rs 3,100 per quintal for paddy procurement. In the last cycle, the state procured 92.63 lakh metric tonnes of paddy, ensuring higher returns for cultivators.
• SUBHADRA Scheme and Central Support: When combined with the Rs 10,000 annual assistance under SUBHADRA and the central government’s Kisan support program, along with CM-KISAN, farmers can receive around Rs 58,000 annually.
• Support for Landless Families: Those without cultivable land are not left out. They are entitled to Rs 12,500 annually in three installments, which can be used to start small ventures like poultry, goat rearing, beekeeping, mushroom farming, or similar livelihood projects.

Beyond Cash Transfers: Strengthening Agriculture

The Odisha government has also been working on long-term measures to improve farm productivity and reduce risks:

• Cold Storage Infrastructure: A scheme launched earlier this year aims to build one cold storage facility in every subdivision. This will help farmers reduce post-harvest losses, stabilize crop prices, and generate employment opportunities in rural areas.
• Krushi Udyog Yojana: This program provides subsidies of up to Rs 1 crore to young entrepreneurs for setting up agri-based industries. In the financial year 2024-25 alone, 1,406 projects were approved with subsidies worth Rs 188.34 crore.
• Boosting Potato Production: The state has intensified its efforts toward potato self-sufficiency. Awareness campaigns were held across more than 3,100 clusters, engaging 36,000 farmers, while nearly 1 lakh beneficiaries took up potato farming. Last year, Odisha distributed over 1.6 lakh quintals of certified potato seeds, triple the supply compared to the previous year.

A Step Towards Empowerment

For small and marginal farmers, the Rs 2,000 installment provides immediate relief for purchasing seeds, fertilizers, or paying farm labor. For landless households, the support paves the way to build sustainable income sources through allied farming activities.

More importantly, the layered approach—combining direct cash with procurement support, infrastructure investment, and entrepreneurial opportunities—signals a shift from short-term aid to long-term empowerment.

Celebrating Nuakhai With New Hope

The release of financial aid on the day of Nuakhai added an emotional touch to the announcement. For many farmers, it symbolized more than a festival—it was reassurance that their contributions to the state’s food security are being recognized and rewarded.

As Odisha strengthens its agricultural backbone through both immediate and structural support, the CM-KISAN scheme stands as a cornerstone of the state’s vision: to transform farming from a livelihood of uncertainty into one of opportunity and growth.