PRAYAGRAJ, July 17 -- More than six lakh people are expected to receive the 20th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme-a flagship Central government initiative supporting small and marginal farmers-this month, according to district officials. A total of 9,43,251 farmers are registered under the scheme in Prayagraj district, and so far, 6,02,000 beneficiaries have received financial aid amounting to Rs.2,151.60 crore. "The upcoming instalment will benefit approximately 6,32,693 farmers, including both new enrollees and those eligible for this phase," said Pawan Kumar Vishwakarma, the deputy director of Agriculture in Prayagraj. To strengthen the scheme's impact in Uttar Pradesh, several new amendments and initiatives have been rolled out. In addition to regular fund transfers, beneficiaries will now also be eligible for agricultural loans and technical support, Vishwakarma added. The state government has set an ambitious target of issuing Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) to 2.5 lakh new farmers during the 2025-26 financial year, prioritising PM-Kisan beneficiaries. These cards will enable access to low-interest crop loans, reducing farmers' dependence on high-cost informal credit sources, he added. "Farmers will also be connected to progressive agricultural technologies and receive updates on various government welfare schemes," the official said. The PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, launched on February 2, 2019, offers an annual income support of Rs.6,000-disbursed in three equal instalments of Rs.2,000-to registered families of small landholding farmers....