ICAR-CIRCOT Hosts Live Telecast of 23rd PM-KISAN Instalment Release; Union Minister Advocates for Cotton Mechanization and Crop Diversification

The ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cotton Technology (CIRCOT), Mumbai, hosted a grand event for the live telecast of the 23rd instalment release of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on 20th June 2026. Four hundred twenty-five farmers and other stakeholders attended the event to witness the Hon’ble Prime Minister directly transfer the financial benefits into the bank accounts of beneficiary farmers.

The event was graced by Chief Guest Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Culture & Tourism, Government of India. The programme commenced with a warm welcome by Dr. S. K. Shukla, Director of ICAR-CIRCOT, followed by a brief presentation highlighting the institute’s achievements. This was followed by the Minister’s address to farmers and stakeholders joined online from Nagpur, Surat, Sirsa, Roha, and Daund.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Shekhawat noted that India has transformed from a food-scarce nation at independence into a net exporter, thanks to the tireless efforts of agricultural scientists and the farming community. Citing Dr. M. S. Swaminathan’s landmark report, he emphasized that there is more need to focus on increasing the capacity of processing and value addition to increase the farm income rather than on increasing the food production.

The Minister highlighted that over the past 12 years, India’s focus has shifted toward high-value crops and secondary processing. He further informed that India is either largest or second largest producer of many crops including cotton. 

Hon’ble Minister stated that "currently, there are four crops i.e. rice, wheat, cotton, and sugarcane that consume more than 85% of India’s available irrigation water," He urged the farmer community to diversify crop cultivation to tackle climate change and meet evolving market demands.

Additionally, the Minister called upon scientists to develop cotton mechanization solutions tailored for small farm holdings, alongside advanced post-harvest processing methods for mechanically harvested cotton. He also interacted with startups and other stakeholders, encouraging them to actively contribute to India’s growth story.