National Farmers Day
Every year on 23 December the country celebrates National Farmers Day. This day is celebrated as the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, who is considered the strongest voice for the rights of farmers. The foundation of India's economy rests on agriculture and even today the livelihood of crores of families is directly linked to farmers. In such a situation, many schemes of the government are playing a big role in increasing the income of farmers, reducing risks and making farming sustainable. The special thing is that the investment in these is less and the profit is more.
The biggest problem in farming is money. Farmers often have to resort to expensive money lending for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and labour. Kisan Credit Card Scheme has been created to reduce this problem. Under this, farmers get loans from banks at low interest rates. If the farmer returns the money on time, the interest rate reduces further. This reduces the cost of farming and saves the farmer from financial pressure.
Many farmers face difficulty in managing household expenses along with farming. Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana has been created for such farmers. Under this, a fixed amount is sent directly to the bank account of the eligible farmers every year. This money helps in buying seeds, applying fertilizer or meeting household needs. The best thing is that there is no middleman in it.
Weather is the biggest threat to farmers. Sometimes drought, sometimes flood and sometimes hailstorm spoil the hard work. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana protects farmers from this risk. A farmer can get his crop insured by paying a very low premium. If there is loss due to natural disaster, the government and the insurance company together compensate for it. This gives confidence to the farmer to start farming again.
For small and marginal farmers, the biggest concern in old age is regular income. PM Kisan Maandhan Yojana reduces this worry. Farmers aged between 18 to 40 years can participate in this. By depositing a small amount every month, the farmer gets pension every month after the age of 60 years. This scheme is a big relief for those farmers who have no permanent support after retirement.
Lack of water has become a big challenge for farming today. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana encourages farmers to adopt modern irrigation techniques. With systems like drip and sprinkler, more crops can be grown with less water. This saves water and increases the farmer's income.
