Guwahati, June 20 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) from Tarakeswar in Hooghly district of West Bengal, transferring more than Rs 18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country.

More than 2.18 crore women farmers are among the beneficiaries of the latest instalment.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, joined the PM-KISAN Samman Utsav virtually from Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kamrup, Guwahati, in the presence of officials from ATARI Guwahati, officials of the Agriculture Department, scientists, experts and farmers.

Addressing the gathering, Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Today is...