Introduction to the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
The Union Cabinet has taken a major step forward in addressing agricultural challenges by approving the ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ for a six-year period starting from 2025-26. This initiative aims to cover 100 districts across the country, focusing on enhancing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers.
Key Objectives and Implementation Strategy
The scheme is inspired by the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme and marks a unique approach that exclusively targets agriculture and allied sectors. It will be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, along with state schemes and private sector partnerships. The primary goals include increasing crop diversification, promoting sustainable practices, and improving post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels.
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity
The initiative also aims to boost irrigation facilities and ensure the availability of both long-term and short-term credit. These efforts are in line with the Budget announcement for 2025-26, which emphasizes the development of 100 districts under this new scheme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the government’s commitment to bringing significant change in the lives of farmers, stating that the scheme will not only increase crop production in lagging districts but also enhance the income of food providers.
Selection Criteria and Monitoring Mechanisms
The selection of 100 districts will be based on three key indicators: low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. Each state/UT will have a number of districts based on their share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings, with at least one district selected from each state. Committees at the District, State, and National levels will oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the scheme.
District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan
A District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be finalized by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which will include progressive farmers as members. These plans will align with national goals such as crop diversification, water and soil conservation, self-sufficiency in agriculture, and the expansion of natural and organic farming. Progress will be monitored monthly through a dashboard using 117 key performance indicators.
Role of NITI Aayog and Central Nodal Officers
NITI Aayog will review and guide the district plans, while Central Nodal Officers appointed for each district will also regularly assess the scheme’s progress. As the targeted outcomes improve in these 100 districts, the overall average of key performance indicators for the country will rise. The scheme is expected to result in higher productivity, value addition in agriculture and allied sectors, local livelihood creation, and increased domestic production, contributing to the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
Government Support and Implementation Steps
Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan welcomed the decision, emphasizing that districts with low agricultural productivity or limited use of Agri Credit Cards (ACC) by farmers will be identified. The government will work to ensure comprehensive implementation of schemes from 11 different departments through convergence. This includes central and state schemes, as well as contributions from other willing partners.
Preparatory Work and Timeline
Preparatory work is already underway, with nodal officers being appointed for each district. Both the districts and their nodal officers will be finalized by the end of July, followed by training sessions starting in August and efforts to raise public awareness. Chouhan noted that foodgrain production has increased by over 40%, with historic growth in fruits, milk, and vegetables. However, disparities in productivity between states and even within districts remain significant.
Tracking Progress and Monitoring
NITI Aayog will track district-level progress based on specific indicators and create a dashboard to monitor the campaign’s progress. The initiative will begin with the Rabi season in October. District-level committees, led by the Gram Panchayat or District Collector, will be formed, including departmental officers and progressive farmers. Similar teams will be established at the state level to ensure effective convergence of schemes in districts.
Multi-Sectoral Approach and Future Goals
At the central level, two teams will be formed—one under Union ministers and another under Secretaries with officers from various departments. The scheme will operate across multiple sectors, aiming to improve productivity in low-yield districts, not just to reach the national average but to achieve top productivity levels. In addition to crops, focus will also be given to fruit cultivation, fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and agroforestry.
