Dehradun, October 30, 2026: More than 8.08 lakh farmers in Uttarakhand received ₹161.96 crore under the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the PM-Kisan Utsav Diwas programme at Hathibarkala in Dehradun on Friday.
The state’s disbursement formed part of a nationwide transfer launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Banaskantha, Gujarat. A total of ₹18,690 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of more than 9.34 crore farmers across the country.
Dhami congratulated the beneficiaries and thanked the Prime Minister and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for the support.
State’s Beneficiary Base Has Expanded
The Chief Minister said approximately four lakh Uttarakhand farmers benefited when the scheme’s first instalment was released in 2019. The number has since grown to more than eight lakh.
Describing farmers as central to India’s food security and economic prosperity, Dhami said financial assistance, crop protection and access to modern farming practices must work together to strengthen agricultural livelihoods.
He highlighted crop insurance, soil health cards, natural farming and improved irrigation as important components of support for farmers.
Free Canal Irrigation and Polyhouse Expansion
Dhami said the state government has made canal irrigation free and allocated ₹200 crore in the budget for measures aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes.
More than 350 modern polyhouses have been developed with an investment of approximately ₹115 crore, he added. These facilities are intended to expand protected cultivation and help farmers pursue more remunerative crops.
For mountainous areas dependent on rainfall, the Chief Minister said the government has approved the ₹1,000-crore Uttarakhand Climate Responsive Rain-fed Farming Project. The initiative aims to make agriculture more resilient and sustainable under changing climatic conditions.
Focus on High-Value Crops and Better Markets
Dhami cited the state’s apple, kiwi and dragon fruit policies, along with the State Millet Mission, as efforts to diversify production. Eligible farmers can receive subsidies of up to 80% for specified activities under these initiatives, he said.
The government is also focusing on cold chains, cold storage, controlled-atmosphere storage and food processing to reduce spoilage and improve returns.
Under the Mehak Kranti policy, seven aroma valleys are being developed, while aromatic cultivation is being promoted across 23,000 hectares, Dhami said. He also highlighted the House of Himalayas brand as a platform for taking Uttarakhand’s millets and local agricultural products to wider domestic and international markets.
₹1,100 Crore Provision for Crop Procurement
The Chief Minister said the supplementary budget includes ₹1,100 crore for paddy and wheat procurement.
He added that hill agriculture, food processing, cooperatives, fisheries and beekeeping are receiving attention to create additional income opportunities and strengthen the rural economy.
Dhami encouraged farmers to combine traditional knowledge with scientific practices and modern technology, while making greater use of available government schemes.
Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi thanked the Chief Minister for the decision to provide additional state assistance to disaster-affected farmers beyond the prescribed disaster relief.
MLA Brij Bhushan Gairola, Uttarakhand State Farmers’ Commission Chairman Rajendra Singh Choudhary, senior agriculture officials and a large number of farmers attended the programme.
