PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana: Transforming India’s Agriculture in 100 Districts

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3 weeks ago

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PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana:

PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana: India’s agricultural sector, the backbone of its economy, is set for a revolutionary boost with the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). Announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and approved by the Union Cabinet, this six-year scheme (2025-26 to 2030-31) targets 100 low-productivity districts to uplift 1.7 crore farmers through technology, credit access, and sustainable practices .

Why Was PMDDKY Scheme Launched?

India faces stark disparities in farm productivity between states and districts. Key challenges include:

Low crop yields due to outdated farming techniques.
Limited irrigation access and inadequate storage infrastructure, causing post-harvest losses.
Restricted credit flow to small farmers.

Inspired by NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme, PMDDKY addresses these gaps by converging 36 existing schemes across 11 departments into a unified mission .

Key Objectives: PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana: Approach

Boost Productivity: Promote climate-resilient seeds, precision farming, and AI-driven tools .
Diversify Crops: Reduce reliance on staples by incentivizing pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables .
Improve Water Management: Expand micro-irrigation (drip/sprinkler) and watershed projects .
Enhance Credit Access: Via Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) and the new ‘Grameen Credit Score’ for rural borrowers .
Cut Post-Harvest Losses: Build panchayat/block-level storage and cold chains .

Implementation Strategy: How It Works

District Selection

Districts are chosen based on:

Low productivity and moderate cropping intensity.
Below-average credit disbursement.
Each state/UT gets at least 1 district .

Governance Structure

District Dhan-Dhaanya Samiti: Local committees with progressive farmers to create tailored agriculture plans.
117 Performance Indicators: Track monthly via dashboards (e.g., yield improvement, credit flow) .
Convergence Model: Integrates central schemes (e.g., PM-KISAN, PMFBY) and state initiatives .

Funding

Annual Outlay: ₹24,000 crore.
Total Agricultural Budget (2025-26): ₹1.37 lakh crore (4% YoY increase) .

Eligibility: Who Benefits?

Priority groups include:

Small/marginal farmers, women farmers, and landless families.
Youth engaged in agriculture (18–45 years).
Farmers in the 100 targeted districts .

Required Documents: Land records, Aadhaar card, bank details, and income certificate .

Expected Impact: By the Numbers

1.7 crore farmers to gain higher incomes and climate resilience .
20-30% productivity boost in target districts through modern techniques .
Reduced migration by creating rural enterprises and agri-jobs .

Economic Ripple Effect: Sectors like agri-inputs (fertilizers, seeds), farm equipment (tractors), and rural FMCG to see growth .

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge	Solution
Low fund utilization	Real-time tracking; quarterly reviews
Farmer awareness gaps	Regional campaigns via SHGs/cooperatives
Climate vulnerabilities	Promote drought-resistant crops
Bureaucratic delays	PPPs for cold chains/logistics

Success Stories in the Making

Pulses Self-Reliance Mission: A 6-year sub-scheme focusing on tur, urad, and masoor pulses. Agencies like NAFED will procure harvests at guaranteed prices .
Maharashtra, UP, and MP: Top recipient states (allocations: ₹3,500 cr, ₹2,900 cr, ₹2,600 cr) driving localized crop diversification .

FAQs

1. How to apply for PMDDKY?
Contact local agriculture offices with required documents for verification .

2. What makes PMDDKY unique?
Its district-specific approach and convergence model avoid policy fragmentation .

3. Does PMDDKY support organic farming?
Yes! It promotes bio-fertilizers and soil health management .

Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Rural India

The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana marks a shift from blanket subsidies to targeted, outcome-driven interventions. By empowering farmers with technology, credit, and infrastructure, it aims to bridge India’s agricultural divide and build Atmanirbhar Krishi (self-reliant farming). Success hinges on efficient fund use, tech adoption, and participatory governance—but if executed well, it could blueprint agricultural transformation globally .

Key Takeaway: PMDDKY isn’t just a scheme; it’s a 100-district mission to make small farmers climate-proof and commerce-ready.