Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, 30 October 2026, said the Centre's agriculture budget had risen more than fivefold since 2013-14, and that farmers had collectively received or saved over ₹50 lakh crore through government schemes and policy decisions over the past several years. Modi made these claims while addressing a large gathering of farmers in Bhildi, Banaskantha district, Gujarat, on the first leg of a two-day state visit.

Five Schemes at the Centre of Modi's Claim

The Prime Minister cited five major policy interventions to substantiate the ₹50 lakh crore figure: PM-KISAN income support, fertiliser subsidies, minimum support prices (MSP), crop insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), and solar-powered irrigation under PM-KUSUM. He described the combined effect as both direct transfers and avoided costs — a distinction that is important in reading the headline number.

Of the total, around ₹4.5 lakh crore had been transferred directly into the bank accounts of small and marginal farmers through PM-KISAN, according to Modi. He noted that small farmers — who account for more than 85 per cent of the farming community — had historically received inadequate institutional attention, and that the income-support scheme was designed specifically to address that gap.

Crop Insurance and Soil Health Cards

On crop insurance, Modi said farmers had received more than ₹2 lakh crore in compensation under PMFBY over the past 10–12 years. He also pointed to the distribution of more than 26 crore Soil Health Cards, which he said had helped farmers determine the precise type and quantity of fertiliser needed for their fields — reducing both input costs and soil degradation over time.

Solar Pumps and the Diesel-Saving Argument

Under PM-KUSUM, the government has reportedly installed around 12 lakh solar pumps for irrigation, cutting dependence on electricity and diesel. Modi argued that without these pumps, farmers would have had to purchase more than 80 crore litres of diesel — a saving he included in the broader ₹50 lakh crore estimate. He added that surplus electricity generated by farm-based solar systems represented an additional financial benefit.

Science, Seeds and Agriculture's Evolving Identity

Modi said agriculture had been increasingly integrated with science and technology over the past 12 years, with nearly 3,000 new seed varieties made available to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions. 'Agriculture had increasingly been linked with science and technology,' he noted, describing farming as both a tradition and a living part of India's culture.

Gujarat Visit and PM-KISAN 24th Instalment

The Bhildi address came as part of Modi's two-day Gujarat tour. On the same day, he launched and dedicated development projects worth more than ₹14,000 crore in Banaskantha and released the 24th instalment of PM-KISAN to beneficiaries. 'The government's measures are aimed at increasing farm incomes, reducing cultivation costs and strengthening the agricultural sector,' he said. With assembly cycles in several states approaching and rural distress remaining a political flashpoint, the government's emphasis on quantifying agricultural gains signals a sustained outreach to India's farming constituency.