New Delhi

The Narendra Modi-government has increased the annual budget for the agriculture ministry by five-fold in the last 12-years to Rs 1.4 lakh crore for the current fiscal as part of its efforts to boost the farm sector and enhance farmers' income.

According to a booklet released by the government to mark Modi's tenure as India's longest-serving prime minister, the budget for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is Rs 1.4 lakh crore for 2026-27 fiscal as against Rs 27,663 crore in 2013-14.

The booklet, titled 'Public Service is the Resolve', highlighted the initiatives taken by the government in the last 12 years for farmers' welfare.

Listing out the achievements, the government said 3,000 climate-resistant crop varieties have been released between 2014 and 2025. Nearly 26 crore soil health cards have been issued, helping farmers to use fertilisers in an efficient manner.

The Centre has distributed a whopping Rs 4.3 lakh crore to farmers under PM-KISAN. Under this scheme that was launched in February 2019, the government provides Rs 6,000 to eligible farmers annually in three equal instalments.

To protect farmers' interest, the total fertiliser subsidy has been enhanced to Rs 2.21 lakh crore in 2024-25 from Rs 75,000 crore in 2014-15.

On urea, the subsidy is 90 per cent, with the retail price being just Rs 266 per bag (45kg) compared to the actual price of Rs 2,200 per bag.

These steps have resulted in record foodgrain production of 3,577 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.

The government has procured crops, primarily wheat and paddy, at minimum support price (MSP) worth more than Rs 26 lakh crore in the last 12 years. This has protected farmers from fluctuating market prices.

The Centre also noted that the agriculture exports stood at Rs 5 lakh crore last fiscal, registering an increase of 37 per cent from the 2013-14 level.

Under the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, the booklet said that 63 per cent of farmers covered in this crop insurance scheme are from the SC/ST and OBC categories.

To promote organic farming and discourage the use of chemical fertilisers, about 19 lakh hectares of area have been brought under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). This government provides assistance to farmers under this scheme, which was launched in 2015 under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.

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More than 25 lakh small and marginal farmers have registered under the social security scheme PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana. Under the digital agriculture mission, around 11 crore agristack digital IDs have been created for farmers.