Agartala Nov 17 PTI Asserting that the Centre is working on reducing farming cost and increasing growers income Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said new Farmer Producer Organisations FPOs of marginalised cultivators will change the agriculture scenario in the country More than 11 crore farmers have so far received a total of Rs 160 lakh crore assistance under the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme he said As a result of this programme over 10000 new FPOs of marginalised farmers have come up and they will change the scenario of agriculture in India the minister said after inaugurating a programme organised as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in College of Fisheries here Under the PM-Kisan scheme income support of Rs 6000 per year in three equal instalments is provided to all landholding farmer families The Centre has been emphasising on soil health management and micro irrigation and farmers are now being encouraged to go for multiple crop farming the union agriculture minister said In order to increase farmers income efforts have been taken by the present government to bring down the production cost Farmers can be encouraged to cultivate high-yield crops he said Tomar also said the Centre is working for holistic development of the northeastern states Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given the highest priority to the development of the NE region he said The central ministers are also coming to the northeastern states so that they can interact with people and help them in their development and growth Tomar said Road connectivity railways and airways are developing in the region which symbolises the growth of the new North East he said He congratulated Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb for his efforts to undertake various development projects and welfare schemes The number of Self Help Groups has increased under the present government from 4000 to 26000 which is a very good sign he said Speaking at the programme Deb said the farming sector played an important role in the economic development of the state PTI JOY BDC BDC