Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday urged farmers to fully leverage central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to transform agriculture into a profitable venture.
According to the PTI, while speaking after inaugurating the Farmers` Training and Common Facility Centre in Koppal district, Karnataka, Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha MP from the state, said the government is focused on rural development and entrepreneurship to boost farm incomes and generate jobs in villages.
The facility was established using her MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds, with support from NABARD and the state government. It will process and store 840 tonnes of mango and 600 tonnes of papaya, with products certified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). NABARD is also providing training to help farmers make the most of the centre.
Calling Koppal the “Akshaya Patra of north Karnataka,” Sitharaman said the project reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s `Vocal for Local` vision.
Support for farmers through PMFME and PMDDKY
As per PTI, she highlighted that PMFME, launched to support value addition in agricultural products, has led to significant progress.
“Since 2020, over Rs 3,700 crore has been disbursed to states. Rs 11,000 crore in loans has been sanctioned for farmers, and over one lakh agri-entrepreneurs have emerged,” she said.
On PMDDKY, which aims to enhance agricultural productivity and diversify crops in 100 low-performing districts, Sitharaman announced a Rs 24,000 crore budgetary allocation for 2025-26. Koppal is among the districts that will benefit.
GST reforms to support agriculture
The Finance Minister also underlined recent GST reforms that reduce the tax burden on the agriculture sector:
According to PTI, she said, “Taxes on farm equipment, solar power, tractors, and agricultural machinery have been reduced from 12 pc to 5 pc or waived entirely.”
GST has also been slashed on bio-pesticides, micronutrients, and bio-fertilisers, all aimed at helping farmers reduce costs and increase profitability.
PM-KISAN support
Sitharaman further noted that 43 lakh farmers in Karnataka benefit from the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi Yojana, receiving Rs 6,000 annually in three instalments through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
She concluded by thanking the Karnataka government for its support in setting up the facility and said she is utilising her MPLAD funds across all seven districts of Kalyana Karnataka.
(With PTI inputs)