Here’s a detailed overview of several major agricultural/farmer-welfare schemes offered by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (Government of India), including their objectives, benefits, and key features. If you like, I can also pull together a full comprehensive list (including smaller schemes) along with state-specific versions.
Key Schemes
Government of India notified various schemes and programmes to rsise agricultural productivity and help the farmers.
Here’s a compiled list of major Central Government agricultural and allied-sector schemes in India (as of 2025), with brief descriptions and key details. For state-level schemes you may need to check your specific state agriculture/horticulture department.
✅ Key Central Schemes
| Scheme | Administering Ministry / Department | Purpose / Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑KISAN) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Income support to farmers (“small & marginal”); cash transfers. |
| Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Comprehensive crop insurance: covers natural calamities, pests, diseases. |
| Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | “Har Khet Ko Pani” – irrigation expansion, micro-irrigation, water use efficiency. (Ministry of Cooperation) |
| Soil Health Card Scheme | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Soil testing and issuance of soil-health cards with fertiliser recommendations. |
| Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Credit support for post-harvest infrastructure (warehousing, cold-storage, processing) for farmers/FPOs etc. |
| Kisan Credit Card (KCC) & Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare / NABARD / banks | Short-term credit support to farmers; interest subvention for timely repayment. |
| Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Promotion of horticulture (fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, plantation crops) with subsidies for infrastructure etc. |
| Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Organic farming promotion: cluster-based approach, certification, marketing support. |
| National Mission on Edible Oil‑Oil Palm (NMEO‑OP) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Increase domestic production of edible oils, esp. oil palm, reduce dependency on imports. |
| Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Promote collective action among farmers, value-addition, stronger market linkages. |
| Digital Agriculture Mission | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Use of technology, agri-data, farmer registry, crop sown database, market links. |
| National Bee Keeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare | Support for beekeeping, honey production, value chains. |
| Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM‑KUSUM) | Dept. of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare / MNRE etc. | Solar power for farmers: solar pumps, solarisation of wells, income augmentation. |
1. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM‑KISAN)
Objective: Provide income support to all eligible farmers so as to supplement their financial needs for agriculture and allied activities. (en.wikipedia.org)
Features:
- Farmers with ≤ 2 ha (or as per state definitions) eligible (small & marginal).
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of fixed amount annually (divided in instalments).
- Helps with inputs (seeds, fertilisers), allied activities and domestic needs.
Importance: Helps reduce income vulnerability of farmers and supports their livelihood.
Tip: Ensure your Aadhaar, bank account & land details are updated to avail benefit.
2. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
Objective: Provide comprehensive crop insurance to farmers to protect them from crop failure due to natural calamities, pests & diseases. (en.wikipedia.org)
Features:
- Covers pre-sowing to post-harvest risks (in notified crops/areas).
- Farmers pay small premium; central & state governments subsidise rest.
- Helps stabilise farmer incomes in bad years.
Tip: Enroll early for declared crops in your region; keep records (dates, crop area) for smoother claim settlement.
3. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
Objective: “Har Khet Ko Pani” (water to every field) – increase irrigation coverage, improve water‐use efficiency (micro‐irrigation) and restore water bodies.
Features:
- Support for drip/sprinkler irrigation (“Per Drop More Crop”).
- Coverage of new irrigation infrastructure, repair of water bodies, rainwater harvesting.
- Helps in regions with water scarcity and for higher productivity.
Tip: Check if your land/area is under notified district/zone under PMKSY; consider micro‐irrigation subsidies.
4. Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF)
Objective: Provide medium- to long-term credit support for building post-harvest infrastructure (warehouses, cold storage, processing units) and community farming assets.
Features:
- Fund size ₹1 lakh crore (till FY2025-26) under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package.
- Interest subvention (3%) & credit guarantee coverage (up to ₹2 crore loans) through CGTMSE for eligible units.
- Beneficiaries: farmers, FPOs, agri‐enterprises, start-ups.
Impact: Helps reduce post-harvest losses, improve value‐addition & farmer income.
Tip: If you are considering setting up storage/processing, check the scheme portal/apply through your state nodal bank/agency.
5. Soil Health Card Scheme
Objective: Promote judicious use of fertilisers and improve soil health by issuing Soil Health Cards (SHC) to farmers, reporting nutrient status of their land and giving fertiliser recommendations. (Beejkosh)
Features:
- Free soil testing; periodic update of SHC for each land holding.
- Helps in enhancing productivity, reducing unnecessary fertiliser cost.
Tip: Get your land tested, use the recommendations on the SHC rather than applying blanket fertilisers.
6. Formation & Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
Objective: Strengthen farmers’ collective action, enhance bargaining power, lower input costs, improve market linkages and value‐addition through FPOs.
Features:
- Central sector scheme with outlay ₹6,865 crore (till 2027-28) for FPO formation/promotion.
- Helps farmers organise, access credit, tie‐up with processing/marketing.
Tip: If you are part of a group of farmers, consider forming an FPO or joining one; check state‐agriculture/marketing Dept for support.
7. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM‑KUSUM)
Objective: Promote solar power in agriculture (solar pumps, small solar plants) and help farmers augment income and reduce diesel/fuel costs. (en.wikipedia.org)
Features:
- Subsidy for installation of solar irrigation pumps (and solarisation of agricultural wells).
- Helps in both irrigation and renewable energy generation.
Tip: If you have an irrigation well/pump or are in an area with high diesel costs → explore PM-KUSUM eligibility in your state.
8. National Agriculture Market (e‑NAM)
Objective: Create a unified national electronic marketplace for agricultural commodities to ensure better price discovery, reduce intermediaries and provide market access across states.
Features:
- Farmers/traders register on e-NAM platform; trade across state/regional markets.
- Transparency and competitive prices for produce.
Tip: Ensure your farm produce is traded via a mandi registered with e-NAM; consider checking available produce listings/prices.
9. Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS) & Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
Objective: Provide affordable credit to farmers (via KCC) and offer interest subvention (reduced interest rate) for timely repayment, thus reducing cost of cultivation.
Features:
- Short-term crop loans for farming, dairy, fisheries etc.
- Interest rate benefit: e.g., loans up to ₹3 lakh at ~7% interest, further reduction if repayment in time.
Tip: If you take cultivation/farming credit, apply for KCC and ensure timely repayment to avail subvention.
10. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
Objective: Promote holistic growth of the horticulture sector (fruits, vegetables, flowers, plantation crops, spices, medicinal plants) to increase income and nutritional security.
Features:
- Financial assistance for post-harvest infrastructure (cold storage, grading, etc). Subsidy ~35% in general areas, ~50% in hilly/tribal regions.
- Helps in diversification away from just cereals to higher-value crops.
Tip: If you farm horticulture crops, check with your state horticulture department/agency about MIDH linkages/subsidies.
🔍 How to Use/Apply & Key Tips
- Visit the official portal of each scheme (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare or respective scheme website) to check full eligibility, benefits, how to apply.
- Make sure your land records, Aadhaar, bank account and state-agriculture department records are updated (many schemes require these).
- Check state-specific add-ons/subsidies: Many states provide additional benefits on top of central schemes.
- Keep records of your crop, area, land holding, and maintain proof as required for subsidies/insurance claims.
- For credit/loan schemes (e.g., KCC), ensure timely repayment to avail full benefits of interest subvention
Why These Schemes Matter & How to Use Them
- Income stability: Schemes like PM-KISAN, PMFBY, KCC interest subvention help reduce risk and provide support.
- Infrastructure & value addition: AIF, MIDH, FPO formation help reduce post-harvest losses and increase value of produce.
- Resource efficiency: PMKSY (micro-irrigation), Soil Health Card help optimise use of water, fertiliser, other inputs.
- Market access: e-NAM and FPOs help farmers access markets, better prices, reduce middle-men.
- New technology & diversification: PM-KUSUM (solar), FPOs pushing value chains, horticulture support, etc.
Tips to make the most of them:
- Ensure your land holdings, bank account, Aadhaar, state‐agriculture registrations are up to date.
- Visit your district/state Agriculture or Horticulture Dept office; they often have “Help Desk” or scheme cell.
- Be aware of deadlines: loan applications, soil testing, scheme enrolments often have cut‐offs.
- Maintain proper records (land area, crops grown, dates, bank transactions) especially for subsidies/insurance.
- Check whether your state has additional benefits (often states add more subsidy on top of the central scheme).
Things to Watch / Challenges
- Some farmers face delays in claim settlement (e.g., under crop insurance).
- Scheme awareness and last-mile implementation can vary significantly by state/district.
- Matching of central & state contributions (in some schemes) may cause lag.
- Infrastructure or credit availability might be limited in remote areas.
- Risk that even with schemes, if market access or price realisation is weak, income boost may be limited.
KrishiCenter 
Leave a comment