PM Releases ₹18,000-Crore PM-KISAN Instalment; Calls for “One Acre, One Season” Natural Farming Push

 

Over 9 crore farmers receive direct support as PM pitches science-backed shift toward chemical-free cultivation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday disbursed the 21st instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, releasing over ₹18,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9 crore farmers across the country. The announcement was made at the South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 in Coimbatore, where the Prime Minister also laid out his vision for a sustainable, future-ready agricultural sector.

Lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu were among the beneficiaries of this latest round of financial support. The Prime Minister noted that, since its inception, more than ₹4 lakh crore has been transferred to small and marginal farmers under PM-KISAN, helping them meet crucial cultivation expenses.

Agriculture Undergoing Major Transformation

Highlighting progress made in the past 11 years, the Prime Minister said India’s agricultural ecosystem had seen “significant and structural shifts.”

He pointed out that:

• Agricultural exports have nearly doubled
• The government has opened new avenues to modernise farming
• Comprehensive support systems are boosting farmers’ resilience

One such initiative is the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), which has extended assistance amounting to over ₹10 lakh crore this year alone. With the extension of KCC benefits to the livestock and fisheries sectors, farmers in these allied segments have also gained substantial access to credit.

Modi added that the reduction of GST on bio-fertilisers had further eased the cost pressures faced by cultivators.

India’s Push Toward Natural Farming

The Prime Minister underscored that natural farming will be a cornerstone of India’s agricultural future. He envisioned the country emerging as a global hub for natural, chemical-free cultivation, driven by biodiversity, innovation, and growing youth participation in modern agri-enterprises.

Rising demand, he said, had triggered excessive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides over recent decades—damaging soil fertility, reducing moisture retention, and consistently pushing up input costs.

Calling this trend “unsustainable,” he urged widespread adoption of:

• Crop diversification
• Natural and organic farming systems

These approaches, he noted, help farmers tackle climate variability, strengthen soil health, and protect consumers from chemical residues.

Mission on Natural Farming Already Showing Impact

The Centre’s National Mission on Natural Farming, launched last year, has already connected lakhs of farmers nationwide.

In Tamil Nadu alone, around 35,000 hectares are currently under natural or organic cultivation—an indication of growing acceptance in the southern states.

Modi emphasised that natural farming is rooted in India’s own cultural and ecological heritage:

“This is an indigenous Indian concept—born from our traditions and aligned with our environment.”

“One Acre, One Season” Call to Farmers

Reiterating the need for collective effort, the Prime Minister appealed to farmers to adopt natural farming on a trial basis—one acre of land for one season—and decide based on the results they observe firsthand.

He urged agriculture universities and scientific institutions to integrate natural farming into their curriculum and collaborate with farmers by treating their fields as “living laboratories.”

The long-term goal, he stressed, is to transform natural farming into a science-backed, evidence-driven national movement capable of shaping a developed India’s agricultural future.