IndiaPosted at: Oct 30 2026 5:12PM


PM Modi unveils Rs 14,000-Crore Gujarat projects, transfers Rs 18,000 crore to farmers under PM-KISAN

New Delhi, Oct 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unveiled and dedicated development projects worth more than Rs 14,000 crore in Gujarat's Banaskantha district, putting agriculture, dairy development, animal husbandry and infrastructure at the forefront of his government's development agenda.
Addressing a gathering in Bhildi, Modi also released the latest instalment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi, transferring more than Rs 18,000 crore directly into the bank accounts of nearly 10 crore farmers across the country.
The wide-ranging development package includes projects in agriculture, railways, highways, metro connectivity, urban infrastructure, food processing and child welfare. Among its major components are a state-of-the-art bovine breeding and research centre, expansion of Banas Dairy's potato-processing facilities, two biogas projects, new railway services and the foundation stones for major road and metro connectivity projects.
Emphasising his government's commitment to farmers, Modi said the agricultural budget had increased more than fivefold compared with 2013-14 and that farmers had received financial assistance and savings exceeding Rs 50 lakh crore through various government schemes and interventions over the past several years.
Citing the PM-KISAN scheme, fertiliser subsidies, minimum support prices, crop insurance and solar-powered irrigation pumps, he said these measures had strengthened agricultural households financially and enhanced the productive capacity of the farming sector.
According to the Prime Minister, nearly Rs 4.5 lakh crore had been transferred directly to small farmers under PM-KISAN, while approximately Rs 16 lakh crore had been spent to protect farmers from fluctuations in international fertiliser prices. He claimed that wheat and paddy farmers had received Rs 24 lakh crore through minimum support price procurement over the past 12 years, while compensation exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore had been disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
He also highlighted the distribution of nearly 12 lakh solar-powered agricultural pumps under the PM-KUSUM scheme, saying these had reduced dependence on conventional electricity and diesel and helped farmers substantially lower their cultivation costs.
Pointing out that small farmers constitute more than 85 per cent of the country's farming community, Modi said his government had sought to address their long-neglected requirements through direct financial assistance, access to modern technology and investment in rural infrastructure. He also referred to the distribution of more than 26 crore Soil Health Cards and the introduction of nearly 3,000 new seed varieties to help farmers cope with changing climatic conditions.
A major highlight of the programme was the inauguration of the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre, established across 127 acres at a cost of Rs 328.77 crore. The facility is designed to promote conservation, scientific breeding and genetic improvement of indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds, with particular emphasis on the Kankrej breed native to the region.
Describing the centre as an important step towards strengthening India's indigenous livestock sector, Modi said advanced reproductive technologies, including in-vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer, would be employed to improve the genetic quality and productivity of future generations of animals. Indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal and Kankrej, along with buffalo breeds including Mehsana, Murrah and Jaffarabadi, would receive particular attention.
" If a farmer has a good-quality cow that produces more milk and remains healthy at a lower cost, he would naturally want these qualities to continue in the next generation," Modi said, explaining the benefits of scientific breeding and IVF technology.
He stressed that improved breeding practices, timely vaccination and better veterinary facilities could significantly raise milk production and the incomes of livestock-owning households, particularly women, who play a crucial role in India's dairy economy.
Referring to the nationwide vaccination campaign against foot-and-mouth disease, the Prime Minister said nearly 150 crore vaccine doses had been administered to livestock, benefiting animals belonging to more than eight crore farmers. He also highlighted the growth in India's milk production, claiming that average daily milk productivity per animal had risen from less than five litres in 2013-14 to around eight litres. India, he said, had become the world's largest milk producer, with one of the fastest rates of productivity growth.
Modi also called for greater utilisation of cattle dung and agricultural waste to produce biogas, bio-CNG and organic fertilisers, describing these as additional income-generating opportunities for rural households. The foundation stones for two biogas-related projects at Tharad and Radhanpur were laid during the programme.
He said dairy cooperatives, particularly institutions such as Banas Dairy, had an important role in developing an integrated rural economy in which milk production, waste management and renewable energy complemented one another.
The expansion of Banas Dairy's potato-processing facilities formed another significant part of the development package. The upgraded infrastructure, including an expanded French fries manufacturing facility and automated storage arrangements, is expected to strengthen procurement and processing of potatoes grown in North Gujarat.
Modi said the expansion would provide better market access to potato growers and create greater opportunities for agricultural value addition. He also referred to the approval of 12 horticulture clusters covering potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, grapes, bananas, onions, oranges, pomegranates, and cocoa. The programme is intended to support the establishment of new orchards and the rejuvenation of existing ones through financial assistance and organised cluster development. Two clusters earmarked for North Gujarat are expected to benefit potato farmers in Banaskantha and Sabarkantha.
Recalling the transformation of Banaskantha during his earlier tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi said improved irrigation, the availability of Narmada water and the adoption of micro-irrigation techniques had changed the agricultural landscape of the district.
He urged farmers to continue conserving water and electricity, recalling that his appeals for restraint in the use of these resources had initially encountered resistance during his visits to the region as Chief Minister.
"Narmada water and modern technologies such as drip irrigation have changed the picture and the destiny of Banaskantha," he said, adding that potatoes produced in the district had acquired international recognition.
The Prime Minister also underscored the growing importance of supplementary agricultural activities such as fisheries and beekeeping. India's seafood exports, he said, had more than doubled, while honey production had also doubled over the past 12 years. India had emerged as the world's second-largest exporter of natural honey, with women-led self-help groups making an increasingly important contribution to the sector.
The broader objective, he said, was to transform agriculture and allied activities into a diversified, technology-driven rural economy rather than restricting farmers to traditional cultivation.
On the infrastructure front, Modi laid the foundation stones for the Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2A and 2B extensions, which are expected to improve connectivity between important urban and economic centres, including GIFT City and the airport. Another major project is the widening of the Ahmedabad-Mehsana highway from four lanes to eight lanes at an estimated investment of around Rs 2,600 crore.
He also flagged off two new railway services — the Ahmedabad-Varanasi Sabarmati Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU service — aimed at improving regional and intercity connectivity.
In the social sector, more than 4,000 modern Anganwadi centres were launched in Gujarat. These facilities are expected to benefit approximately four lakh children and pregnant women by strengthening early childhood care, nutrition and related services.
Reflecting on his 25 years in public office, Modi described the occasion as particularly significant, saying it marked his first visit to Banaskantha after completing 25 years as the head of a government.
He recalled that his first major public programme after becoming Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 had been organised in Deesa, where a Lok Kalyan Mela had attracted nearly three lakh people. Describing his political journey as one shaped by the people of Gujarat, he said the experience and guidance of ordinary citizens had helped him understand the requirements of governance and public service.
"I knew only two things: public service is national service, and the development of Gujarat contributes to the development of the country," he said, adding that he would remain indebted to the people for the opportunities and responsibilities entrusted to him.
The Prime Minister also launched a sharp attack on Opposition parties, accusing them of spreading rumours and creating panic over the availability of fertilisers and cooking gas amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran and countries in the Gulf region. He alleged that misinformation was being deliberately circulated to generate artificial queues and anxiety among farmers and households.
Defending the government's handling of fertiliser supplies, Modi said India had ensured that farmers did not face shortages despite international disruptions and sharp increases in prices caused by the conflict.
He said a bag of urea costing around Rs 3,000 in the international market was being made available to Indian farmers for less than Rs 300, while a bag of DAP fertiliser, whose international price had risen above Rs 5,000, was being supplied domestically for approximately Rs 1,350. The government, he said, was bearing the additional financial burden to protect farmers and maintain agricultural production.
Calling for national unity amid international uncertainty, Modi urged citizens, particularly young people, to participate in the Run for Unity on Saturday, October 31, to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and National Unity Day.
He also announced that the annual Ekta Parv celebrations at Ekta Nagar would be held at 5.30 pm instead of in the morning to accommodate the Run for Unity and other programmes. The evening celebrations would feature a large parade by police and security forces, accompanied by tableaux, recalling the spirit of the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
Inviting people from across the country to join the celebrations, Modi said the occasion should renew the national commitment to the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. He maintained that the development initiatives launched in Gujarat represented part of a wider national effort to build a prosperous, self-reliant and developed India, with farmers, women and young people playing a central role in the country's transformation.
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Tags: #PM Modi unveils Rs 14#000-Crore Gujarat projects# transfers Rs 18#000 crore to farmers under PM-KISAN
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