Bhubaneswar, Feb 21 (IANS): The Odisha government on Thursday said it will implement the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme and cooperate with the Central government to extend benefits to the farmers.

After reviewing the state's Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme here, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said that the central scheme would be launched in the state on February 24.

The state government's decision to implement PM-KISAN will ensure additional financial assistance to the farmers of state, who are already getting benefits under the KALIA scheme.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, Rs 6,000 per annum will be provided to small and marginal farmers across the country having cultivable land up to two hectares.

Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday transferred Rs 700 crore to the bank accounts of over 14 lakh beneficiaries under the KALIA scheme at a programme in Bargarh.

About 30 lakh small farmers, sharecroppers, landless farmers and farm labourers in the state are believed to have received the benefits under the scheme.

The Chief Minister also demanded that the Centre include small farmers, landless farmers and sharecroppers in the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.