LUCKNOW, June 21 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday released the 23rd instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, transferring more than Rs18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country through DBT. The amount was released during a programme held in Hooghly, West Bengal. In Uttar Pradesh, more than 2.17 crore eligible farmers will receive Rs 4,352.40 crore under the latest instalment. Agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi joined the live telecast of the programme at the Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research in Lucknow and thanked the Prime Minister for continued support to farmers. According to the state government, over 2.18 crore farmers in UP received Rs 4,370.26 crore under the previous instalment. Since the launch of the scheme, a cumulative Rs 99,032.58 crore has been transferred to 3.12 crore farmer families in the state. Under PM-Kisan, eligible farmer families receive Rs 6,000 annually in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 each.htc...