Not eligible for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi? Don’t fret! These are additional welfare schemes for farmers

PM Kisan Samman Nidhi: The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi 20th installment will be credited to the beneficiary farmers account after 11 am today. Launched on February 2, 2019, the beneficiary farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 every four months. The small and marginal farmer families are eligible for PM Kisan scheme while high-income individuals, institutional landholders are exempted from getting benefits under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. List of 10 additional welfare schemes for farmers Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana (PM-KMY)- Launched on September 12, 2019, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojna is a government scheme to provide security to the most vulnerable farmer families. PM-KMY is contributory scheme, small and marginal farmers (SMFs), subject to exclusion criteria, can opt to become member of the scheme by paying monthly subscription to the Pension Fund. Similar, amount will be contributed by the Central Government. A total of 23.38 lakh farmers have enrolled under the scheme.Under the scheme, the farmers will get Rs 3,000 monthly pension once they attain 60 years of age. The applicants between the age group of 18 to 40 years need to contribute Rs. 55 to Rs. 200 per month till they attain the age of 60. Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is pension fund manager and registration of beneficiaries is done through CSC and State Govts, PIB release read. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana- Launched in 2016, the PM asal Bima Yojana provides a a simple and affordable crop insurance product to ensure comprehensive risk cover for crops to farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest and to provide adequate claim amount. The scheme is demand driven and available for all farmers. A total of 5549.40 lakh farmer applications were insured under thescheme since 2016-17 and Rs 150589.10 crore has been paid as claim, read the PIB release. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme- The Interest Subvention Scheme provides concessional short term agri-loans to the farmers practicing crop husbandry and other allied activities like animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries.Under the scheme, the farmers can avail short term crop loans upto Rs 3 lakh at an interest rate of 7 per cent per annum for one year. Additional 3 per cent subvention is also given to the farmers for prompt and timely repayment of loans thus reducing the effective rate of interest to 4% per annum. The benefit of ISS is available for post-harvest loans for a further period of six months post-harvest to small and marginal farmers having Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs), on occurrence of natural calamities and severe natural calamities. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)- Agriculture Infrastructure Fund launched under Aatmanirbhar Bharat Package is a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post- harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee support. The Fund of Rs. 1 lakh crore under the scheme will be disbursed from FY 2020-21 to FY2025-26 and the support under the scheme will be provided for the duration of FY2020-21 to FY2032-33. Under the scheme, the banks and financial institutions will provide Rs 1 lakh crore as loans with interest subvention of 3 per cent per annum and credit guarantee coverage under CGTMSE for loans up to Rs. 2 Crores. Further, each entity is eligible to get the benefit of the scheme for up to 25 projects located in different LGD codes. The eligible beneficiaries are- Agri-entrepreneurs, Start-ups, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations(FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Projects, State Agencies, Agricultural Produce Market Committees (Mandis), National & State Federations of Cooperatives, Federations of FPOs (Farmer Produce Organizations) and Federations of Self Help Groups (SHGs). Formation and Promotion of new 10,000 FPOs- The Central Sector Scheme (CSS) for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)" has a total budgetary outlay of Rs.6865 crores. FPOs get a financial assistance upto Rs 18 lakh per FPO for a period of 3 years. Additionally, provision has been made for matching equity grant upto Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility upto Rs. 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs. National beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM)- Launched in 2020, National Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM) aims for overall promotion and development of scientific beekeeping & to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”. Key achievements Honeybees/ beekeeping have been approved as 5th input for agriculture 4 World Class State of the Art Honey Testing Labs and 35 Mini Honey Testing Labs have been sanctioned under National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) Madhukranti portal has been launched for online registration of Beekeepers/ Honey Societies/ Firms/ Companies 100 Honey FPOs targeted under 10,000 FPOs scheme in the country. 88 FPOs have been registered by NAFED, NDDB and TRIFEDMarket Intervention Scheme and Price support Scheme- The Price Support Scheme (PSS) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements for procurement of pulses, oilseeds and copra. Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for procurement of agricultural and horticultural commodities which are perishable in nature and are not covered under the Price Support Scheme (PSS). The objective of intervention is to protect the growers of these commodities from making distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival period when the prices tend to fall below economic levels and cost of production, PIB release read. Namo Drone Didi- The Namo Drone Didi scheme aims to provide drones to 15000 selected Women Self Help Group (SHGs) for providing rental services to farmers for agriculture purpose (application of fertilizers and pesticides). The scheme provides Central Financial Assistance @ 80 per cent of the cost of drone and accessories/ancillary charges upto a maximum of Rs. 8.0 Lakhs will be provided to the women SHGs for purchase of drones, read the PIB release. Soil Health Card (SHC)- The Soil health card gives information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. The indicators are typically based on farmers' practical experience and knowledge of local natural resources. The card lists soil health indicators that can be assessed without the aid of technical or laboratory equipment.