ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, in collaboration with the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Kolkata Centre, observed ‘PM-KISAN Utsav Diwas’ on Saturday, August 02, 2025, marking a significant outreach initiative under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.
The event was graced by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj. Addressing the gathering, Minister reaffirmed the Centre’s unwavering commitment to the economic empowerment of farmers and fishers across India. He interacted with fishers and fish farmers and emphasized the crucial role of fisheries in generating rural employment and sustaining livelihoods.
A total of 81 fishers and fish farmers from the South 24 Parganas district participated in the programme, alongside scientists and technical officers from both ICAR-CIFRI and ICAR-CIFE. The event was inaugurated with the ceremonial watering of a holy Tulsi plant by the Minister.
A key highlight of the event was the live broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s virtual address at 11:00 AM, which reached over 2 crore farmers across the country through video conferencing. Farmers were connected via ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), agricultural universities, PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, and Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies.
During his address, the Prime Minister announced the release of the 20th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, disbursing Rs 20,500 crore to benefit over 9.7 crore farmers nationwide. West Bengal alone accounted for 44.78 lakh beneficiaries. Many farmers at the event received real-time SMS confirmations of the credited amount.
Following the Prime Minister’s speech, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, interacted with farmers from various states. He addressed their queries and encouraged the adoption of sustainable and integrated agricultural practices. He also urged farmers to take advantage of various government schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and PM-KISAN.
The Kolkata event was jointly coordinated by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, and Dr. T. K. Ghoshal, Head, ICAR-CIFE Kolkata Centre, along with their respective teams. Dr. Das emphasized the need to connect fisheries research with field-level implementation and government support to ensure inclusive development, especially in inland and estuarine fisheries.
The event reflected the Government of India’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” highlighting the crucial role of scientific institutions in promoting sustainable and resilient growth in agriculture and fisheries.
