News & Announcement
PM Kisan Utsav Divas Celebrated At Sameti, Gangtok
Gangtok, June 20 (IPR): The State Agriculture Management & Extension Training Institute (SAMETI), Agriculture Department, in coordination with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), East, conducted a programme for the release of the 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas at SAMETI Hall, Lingding, this afternoon.
Celebrated on June 20th, PM Kisan Utsav Divas marks the release of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana instalments while honouring India's agricultural community. This year's programme also highlights the "Khet Bachao Abhiyan" (Save the Farm Campaign), a nationwide Ministry of Agriculture initiative, aimed at protecting soil health, promoting natural farming, and curbing the over-use of chemical fertilisers.
Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Fisheries Departments, Mr Puran Kumar Gurung graced the event as the Chief Guest.
In his address, the Chief Guest shared that as the son of a farmer, he remains deeply connected to agriculture. Acknowledging Sikkim’s small population, he noted that while a Rs 6,000 annual grant, under the PM KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana, might seem modest, its impact is substantial.
Looking to the future, Mr Gurung emphasised that in an era dominated by AI, human intelligence is our greatest asset. He explained that the government cannot provide employment for everyone and he urged educated youth to take the initiative and venture into farming, noting that modern machinery can ease the labour.
Expressing gratitude for the Centre's financial support, he called for a collective effort to uplift the state. He celebrated Sikkim’s global brand as a 100% organic state but urged government officials to regulate organic vegetable prices. Finally, Mr Gurung raised concerns over the state’s declining birth rate and reaffirmed the Chief Minister’s twin missions: improving health and developing human resources through education.
The programme commenced with a presentation on the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana by Deputy Director, Ms Susmita Tamang, who outlined the scheme's objectives, eligibility, and exclusion criteria. She shared the latest instalment-wise payment report, which confirmed the disbursement of Rs 8,31,94,200 to 36,372 beneficiaries. She informed that notably, while the rest of India is receiving the 23rd installment, Sikkim is receiving its 22nd. Ms Tamang concluded by presenting a district-wide beneficiary list and reviewing the recent PM-KISAN saturation drive held across all districts and GPUs to assist farmers with bank account validation, Aadhaar authentication, and general troubleshooting.
Secretary for the Horticulture Department, Mr T T Bhutia, remarked that this PM-KISAN Utsav Divas was a special milestone, marking the release of the 22nd instalment for the state. He noted that while the individual disbursement amount may seem small, it provides crucial, direct financial support for farmers to use at their discretion. Mr Bhutia also pointed out that while the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” is a nationwide campaign,Sikkim is uniquely positioned as a frontrunner, being an organic state that has banned chemical fertilisers such as Urea and DAP. He urged the agricultural community to seize this opportunity to maximise their land's productivity and value.
Secretary for the Agriculture Department, Mr S Anabalagan, spoke about the core objectives of the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”. He noted that although it is a month-long national initiative launched by the Prime Minister to run from June 1st to June 30th, it presents a vital opportunity to revive agricultural productivity. He urged stakeholders to actively work toward breathing life back into the soil by reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and increasing the use of organic alternatives.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, Mr Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, delivered an overview of the PM-KISAN scheme, describing it as a visionary initiative by the Prime Minister to give back to the nation's farmers. He advised farmers to visit their local Panchayats and Block Development Offices (BDOs) to proactively update and verify their bank passbooks. Highlighting Sikkim’s long-standing global brand as the first organic state, Mr Bhutia noted that the state restricted chemical fertilisers in 2012 and officially banned them by law in 2016. He further shared that under the commitment of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, Sikkim achieved a historic milestone during a recent trial run, successfully exporting its first consignment of large cardamom worth Rs 10 crores.
The programme came to a close with a live viewing of the PM Kisan Utsav Divas from Tarakeswar in Hoogly District of West Bengal where the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, disbursed the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana live.
The programme was also attended by Principal Director for Agriculture Department, Mr Jagdish Pradhan; Principal Director for Agriculture Department, Mr Rajen Thapa; Joint Director for ICAR, Mr Ashok Kumar, as well as senior officials of the line departments.
The event was anchored by Agriculture Inspector, Ms Sambedhna Pradhan, who served as the master of ceremonies.
Celebrated on June 20th, PM Kisan Utsav Divas marks the release of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana instalments while honouring India's agricultural community. This year's programme also highlights the "Khet Bachao Abhiyan" (Save the Farm Campaign), a nationwide Ministry of Agriculture initiative, aimed at protecting soil health, promoting natural farming, and curbing the over-use of chemical fertilisers.
Minister for Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Fisheries Departments, Mr Puran Kumar Gurung graced the event as the Chief Guest.
In his address, the Chief Guest shared that as the son of a farmer, he remains deeply connected to agriculture. Acknowledging Sikkim’s small population, he noted that while a Rs 6,000 annual grant, under the PM KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana, might seem modest, its impact is substantial.
Looking to the future, Mr Gurung emphasised that in an era dominated by AI, human intelligence is our greatest asset. He explained that the government cannot provide employment for everyone and he urged educated youth to take the initiative and venture into farming, noting that modern machinery can ease the labour.
Expressing gratitude for the Centre's financial support, he called for a collective effort to uplift the state. He celebrated Sikkim’s global brand as a 100% organic state but urged government officials to regulate organic vegetable prices. Finally, Mr Gurung raised concerns over the state’s declining birth rate and reaffirmed the Chief Minister’s twin missions: improving health and developing human resources through education.
The programme commenced with a presentation on the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana by Deputy Director, Ms Susmita Tamang, who outlined the scheme's objectives, eligibility, and exclusion criteria. She shared the latest instalment-wise payment report, which confirmed the disbursement of Rs 8,31,94,200 to 36,372 beneficiaries. She informed that notably, while the rest of India is receiving the 23rd installment, Sikkim is receiving its 22nd. Ms Tamang concluded by presenting a district-wide beneficiary list and reviewing the recent PM-KISAN saturation drive held across all districts and GPUs to assist farmers with bank account validation, Aadhaar authentication, and general troubleshooting.
Secretary for the Horticulture Department, Mr T T Bhutia, remarked that this PM-KISAN Utsav Divas was a special milestone, marking the release of the 22nd instalment for the state. He noted that while the individual disbursement amount may seem small, it provides crucial, direct financial support for farmers to use at their discretion. Mr Bhutia also pointed out that while the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan” is a nationwide campaign,Sikkim is uniquely positioned as a frontrunner, being an organic state that has banned chemical fertilisers such as Urea and DAP. He urged the agricultural community to seize this opportunity to maximise their land's productivity and value.
Secretary for the Agriculture Department, Mr S Anabalagan, spoke about the core objectives of the “Khet Bachao Abhiyan”. He noted that although it is a month-long national initiative launched by the Prime Minister to run from June 1st to June 30th, it presents a vital opportunity to revive agricultural productivity. He urged stakeholders to actively work toward breathing life back into the soil by reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and increasing the use of organic alternatives.
Commissioner-cum-Secretary for Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, Mr Jigmee Dorjee Bhutia, delivered an overview of the PM-KISAN scheme, describing it as a visionary initiative by the Prime Minister to give back to the nation's farmers. He advised farmers to visit their local Panchayats and Block Development Offices (BDOs) to proactively update and verify their bank passbooks. Highlighting Sikkim’s long-standing global brand as the first organic state, Mr Bhutia noted that the state restricted chemical fertilisers in 2012 and officially banned them by law in 2016. He further shared that under the commitment of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, Sikkim achieved a historic milestone during a recent trial run, successfully exporting its first consignment of large cardamom worth Rs 10 crores.
The programme came to a close with a live viewing of the PM Kisan Utsav Divas from Tarakeswar in Hoogly District of West Bengal where the Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, disbursed the 23rd instalment of the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana live.
The programme was also attended by Principal Director for Agriculture Department, Mr Jagdish Pradhan; Principal Director for Agriculture Department, Mr Rajen Thapa; Joint Director for ICAR, Mr Ashok Kumar, as well as senior officials of the line departments.
The event was anchored by Agriculture Inspector, Ms Sambedhna Pradhan, who served as the master of ceremonies.
