The 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, marking a significant outreach initiative under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme.

The event was graced by Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj. Addressing the gathering, the Minister reaffirmed the Centre’s unwavering commitment to the economic empowerment of farmers and fishers across India. He also interacted with fishers and fish farmers and highlighted the critical role of fisheries in rural employment and livelihood generation.

The programme saw the participation of 81 fishers and fish farmers from South 24 Parganas district, alongside scientists and technical officers from both ICAR-CIFRI and ICAR-CIFE. The event was formally inaugurated with the traditional watering of a holy plant Tulsi by the Hon’ble Minister.
One of the key highlights of the day was the virtual address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi , which was broadcast live to over 2 crore farmers across the country through video conferencing. Farmers connected via ICAR institutions, 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, amounting to Rs 20,500 crore, benefitting over 9.7 crore farmers nationwide. West Bengal alone accounted for 44.78 lakh beneficiaries. Many of the farmers present received real-time SMS confirmations of the credited amount.

Following the Prime Minister’s address, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, interacted with farmers from different states. He responded to their queries and urged them to adopt sustainable and integrated agricultural practices. He also encouraged them to avail themselves of other government schemes such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and PM-KISAN.

The event in Kolkata was jointly coordinated by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, and Dr. T. K. Ghoshal, Head, ICAR-CIFE Kolkata Centre, along with their teams . Dr. Das stressed on the importance of linking fisheries research with field-level outreach and government support to ensure inclusive development, especially in the inland and estuarine fishing sectors.

The event stood as a strong reflection of the Government of India’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas”, showcasing the vital role of scientific institutions in driving sustainable and resilient development in agriculture and fisheries.