North News
New Delhi, January 1
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to farmer welfare as key decisions were made in the first Cabinet of 2025. In a post on X, he wrote, “Ours is a Government fully committed to furthering welfare of farmers. We are proud of all our farmer sisters and brothers who work hard to feed our nation. The first Cabinet of 2025 is dedicated to enhancing prosperity for our farmers. I am glad that key decisions have been taken in this regard.”
The Cabinet approved the continuation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme until 2025-26. The decision, with a budget of Rs 69,515.71 crore, will provide risk coverage for crops affected by natural calamities.
Additionally, the government has set up a Rs 824.77 crore Fund for Innovation and Technology (FIAT) to improve transparency and efficiency in claim settlements. This fund will support initiatives like the Yield Estimation System using Technology (YES-TECH), already operational in nine major states, and the Weather Information and Network Data Systems (WINDS), which aims to enhance weather monitoring at local levels.
The government also approved the extension of a special package on Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, with a financial implication of Rs 3,850 crore. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainable availability of DAP at affordable prices for farmers amid global market challenges. Since April 2024, the total allocation for the special package has exceeded Rs 6,475 crore.
