1st Engine of Development: Agriculture

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana - Developing Agri Districts Programme 

• Inspiration:  Success of the Aspirational Districts Programme
• Coverage: Through the convergence of existing schemes and specialized measures, the programme will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters.
• Target: 1.7 crore farmers.

Multi-sectoral 'Rural Prosperity and Resilience' programme

• To be launched in partnership with states.
• Objective: To address under-employment in agriculture through skilling, investment, technology, and invigorating the rural economy.
• Goal: To generate ample opportunities in rural areas so that migration is an option, but not a necessity. 
• Coverage:  In Phase-1, 100 developing Agri-districts will be covered.
• Focus: Rural women, young farmers, rural youth, marginal and small farmers, and landless families.

Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

• Tenure:  6 years.
• Focus on: Tur, Urad, and Masoor pulses.
• Objective: Unlimited procurement of these 3 pulses by central agencies (NAFED and NCCF) during the next 4 years from farmers who register with these agencies and enter into agreements.

Mission for Cotton Productivity

• Tenure: 5 year
• Objective: To facilitate improvements in productivity and sustainability of cotton farming, and promote extra-long staple cotton varieties.
• Aligned with integrated 5F vision for the textile sector: The '5F' Formula encompasses - Farm to fibre; fibre to factory; factory to fashion; fashion to foreign.
  • This will ensure a steady supply of quality cotton for rejuvenating India's traditional textile sector.

Framework for sustainable harnessing of fisheries from Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and High Seas

• Objective: To unlock the untapped potential of the marine sector
• Focus areas: Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
• Key facts:
  • India ranks 2^nd largest globally in fish production and aquaculture.
  • Seafood exports are valued at 60 thousand crore.

Other key highlights

• Comprehensive Programme for Vegetables & Fruits
  • To be launched in partnership with states.
  • Objective: To promote production, efficient supplies, processing, and remunerative prices for farmers.
• Makhana Board in Bihar
  • Objective: To improve production, processing, value addition, marketing & organization of people engaged in makhana production into FPOs.
• National Mission on High Yielding Seeds: It aims to -
  • Strengthening of research ecosystem;
  • Targeted development and propagation of seeds with high yield, pest resistance & climate resilience; and
  • Commercial availability of more than 100 seed varieties released since July 2024.
• Enhanced Credit through Kisan Credit Cards (KCC)
  • Loan limit under Modified Interest Subvention Scheme will be enhanced from 3 lakh to 5 lakh for loans taken through the KCC.
  • Key Fact: KCC facilitate short term loans for 7.7 crore farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers.
• Urea Plant to be set up at Namrup, Assam.
  • So far, 5 Urea plants have been revived across India: Sindri (Jharkhand); Barauni (Bihar); Gorakhpur (U.P.); Ramagundam (Telangana); Talcher (Odisha)
• India Post complemented by India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) to act as a Catalyst for the Rural Economy.
  • It will become a public logistics organization serving Viswakarmas, entrepreneurs, women, SHGs, MSMEs, and businesses.
• Support to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) for its lending operations for the cooperative sector.