Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, 11 June 2025, reaffirmed his government's commitment to farmer welfare as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) completed 12 years in office, highlighting a string of agricultural schemes that have, according to official figures, transferred over ₹4.28 lakh crore directly to nearly 9.5 crore farmer families across India.

Modi's Message on Farmer Welfare

Taking to social media platform X under the hashtag #12YearsOfKisanSamriddhi, Modi said, 'Our farmer brothers and sisters are the pillars of the nation's food security, nutrition, and prosperity. Our government is leaving no stone unturned to make their lives as easy as possible.'

In a second post, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of Kisan Credit Cards, describing them as 'extremely useful to farmers, livestock farmers, and fishermen, providing easy access to low-interest loans for their agricultural needs.' He also cited the government's 'Seed to Market' initiative as a mechanism for ensuring fair crop prices.

Key Schemes and What They Cover

The centrepiece of the government's farm welfare architecture is the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), under which eligible farmers receive ₹6,000 annually in direct bank transfers. According to official data, cumulative disbursements under the scheme have crossed ₹4.28 lakh crore since its launch.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) has settled claims worth approximately ₹1.92 lakh crore for nearly 23 crore farmers. Meanwhile, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Maandhan Yojana provides a monthly assured pension of ₹3,000 to small and marginal farmers, offering post-retirement income security.

On the infrastructure side, the PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana has expanded irrigation coverage, while the Soil Health Card Scheme has issued nearly 26 crore cards since 2014-15 up to March this year. The PM-KUSUM scheme has extended solar energy access to farms, reducing input costs. Additional income streams for farmers have been created through the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and the National Livestock Mission.

Production Milestones

India's foodgrain output has climbed from 265 million tonnes in 2013-14 to approximately 358 million tonnes in 2024-25, according to government data. Notably, India has emerged as the world's largest rice producer, reportedly surpassing China with a record output of more than 154 million tonnes.

The government has also fixed the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at 1.5 times the cost of production for major crops, a benchmark it says provides farmers with more predictable returns.

Broader Context and What Comes Next

The 12-year milestone arrives against a backdrop of persistent farmer distress in several states, with debt, input costs, and erratic monsoons remaining structural concerns that policy schemes alone have not fully resolved. Critics have in the past questioned whether MSP coverage is broad enough and whether PM-KISAN's annual outlay keeps pace with rising farm input costs.

This comes amid renewed political focus on rural constituencies ahead of state assembly cycles, making the government's messaging on agrarian welfare particularly pointed. Whether the next phase of farm policy deepens existing schemes or introduces new frameworks is likely to be a central question in the months ahead.