Odisha Disburses ₹833 Crore CM-KISAN Aid Ahead of Nuakhai

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday released the fifth instalment of the CM-KISAN scheme, transferring ₹833 crore directly to the bank accounts of 41.35 lakh small and marginal farmers and 13,949 landless agricultural households.

The assistance was released at a state-level event at the OUAT campus in Bhubaneswar, ahead of Nuakhai, a major agrarian festival, particularly in western Odisha.Majhi said farmers are the foundation of the state’s progress and stressed the need to double farm-family incomes. He urged farmers to diversify into livestock, fisheries, millet and pulse cultivation, noting that over 60% of Odisha’s population depends on agriculture.

Under the Samrudha Krushak Yojana, paddy is being procured at ₹3,100 per quintal. During the 2025-26 kharif season, the state procured 77.48 lakh metric tonnes from 18.84 lakh farmers, with ₹5,663.84 crore paid as input assistance within 48 hours.

The government has extended registration for 2026-27 kharif paddy procurement until September 7 due to the flood situation. A ₹1,000 crore special package has also been approved for flood-hit farmers in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Sundargarh, with compensation based on damage assessments.

Majhi also criticised the previous BJD government over the reported ₹5,112 monthly income of agricultural households in 2022, saying his government is working to improve farm incomes. Agriculture Minister KV Singh Deo assured that all eligible flood-affected farmers would receive assistance transparently, while Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari said unseasonal rain has been formally recognised as a disaster for providing relief.The programme was live-streamed across all 30 districts, with more than 750 farmers attending the state-level event.