Big decisions for farmers on the first day of the new year

The Indian government has made major decisions for farmers on the first day of the new year. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Cabinet approved an increase in the special one-time package for DAP fertilizer to ₹3850 crore on January 1. Additionally, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved an increase in the funding for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS), extending their implementation until 2025-26. A separate fund of ₹824.77 crore has also been allocated for the use of technology in the implementation of these schemes. In another decision, the Cabinet approved the proposal for the export of 10 million tons of non-basmati rice to Indonesia through the National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL).

After the Cabinet meeting, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters that DAP fertilizer will continue to be available to farmers at ₹1350 per bag (50 kg), with the government bearing the additional cost.

Last year, the government had announced a special package of ₹2625 crore for DAP fertilizer, providing a subsidy of ₹3500 per ton for the period from April 1 to December 31, 2024. This special package has now been extended from January 1, 2025, until further notice, continuing the ₹3500 per ton subsidy on DAP.

Furthermore, the total expenditure for the PMFBY and RWBCIS schemes has been increased to ₹69,515.71 crore for the financial years 2021-22 to 2025-26.

When asked about the ongoing farmers' movement in Punjab, Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw responded, "During the Haryana elections, farmers gave an excellent response to the debate between the 'movement' and real welfare."