The Central Government has launched an ambitious scheme, Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana) in 2025-26 for the development of backward agricultural districts of the country. The objective of this scheme is to increase the income of farmers in 100 selected aspirational districts and make agricultural production sustainable, modern and productive. This scheme is being implemented by consolidating 36 schemes of 11 ministries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Its annual budget is fixed at Rs 24,000 crore and the scheme will run for 6 years.
The main objectives of this scheme are to increase agricultural productivity by 20-30%, develop crop diversity in line with the market, improve irrigation facilities, provide digital agricultural loans at affordable costs and promote organic farming. Under this, mini kits of improved seeds of crops like pulses will be provided free to the farmers and thousands of processing units will be set up for the producers, on which the government will also give a subsidy of up to Rs 25 lakh. Similarly, a target has been set to distribute a total of 126 lakh quintals of certified seeds to farmers from 2025-26 to 2030-31.
The scheme targets districts where agricultural production is low, proper irrigation facilities are not available and access to financial services is limited. At least one district of every state has been included in this. Beneficiary farmers under the scheme will also include small, marginal, women farmers, SC/ST farmers, animal rearers and farmer producer organizations. The scheme will also be implemented through digital medium so that efficiency and monitoring of agricultural operations of the district can be done in a better way.
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that special committees will be formed at the state level and district level to effectively implement the scheme. These committees will work under the chairmanship of the District Collector and will make policies as per local needs. The continued progress of the scheme will be assessed on the basis of 117 key performance indicators.
Currently, under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, about 9.7 crore farmers are given Rs 6,000 annually. Those farmers who were outside this scheme will also get benefits from the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana. Through this scheme, farmers’ income will increase, production will improve and food self-sufficiency will be promoted.
This scheme is being considered as a huge step by the Government of India in the direction of rural prosperity and farmer welfare, which will take the country’s agricultural sector towards modernization and strengthen the economic condition of the farmers.