Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)
The Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), an ambitious scheme targeting the enhancement of agricultural profiles in 100 districts with an annual budget of ₹24,000 crore.
Objectives and Funding
- The scheme aims to:
- Enhance agricultural productivity.
- Increase adoption of crop diversification.
- Augment post-harvest storage at panchayat and block levels.
- Facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit.
- Funds will be provided through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 ministries, including agriculture, food, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries, finance, rural development, cooperation, and irrigation.
District Selection Criteria
- Districts will be selected based on:
- Low crop productivity.
- Moderate crop density.
- Below average credit penetration.
- At least one district will be chosen from each state.
Implementation and Monitoring
- The programme will run for six years starting from the financial year 2025-26, benefiting approximately 17 million farmers.
- A committee of ministers will monitor the scheme at the national level, supported by a panel of secretaries.
- District-level plans will be devised by a committee under the District Collector, considering agro-climatic conditions.
- NITI Aayog will provide guidance, and agriculture universities will serve as technical partners for each district.
Policy and Implementation Remarks
Union Agriculture Minister emphasized the need for an import-export policy that encourages crop diversification. He highlighted the importance of addressing issues like fake fertilizers and seeds to support the scheme's success.
