In a major push to transform India’s agricultural landscape, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the ambitious ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’, targeting 100 districts with low productivity and limited credit access. This six-year scheme, to begin in 2025-26, aims to overhaul farming practices and infrastructure by converging efforts across ministries and private partnerships.
Inspired by Aspirational District model
Taking a cue from NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme, this new scheme marks a first-of-its-kind initiative that focuses solely on agriculture and its allied sectors. The primary objective is to promote crop diversification, improve irrigation, strengthen storage facilities at grassroots levels, and increase accessibility to both short-term and long-term credit.
Districts to be selected on key farm indicators
A total of 100 districts will be selected based on three major parameters: low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and insufficient credit disbursement. Each state or union territory will have at least one district under the scheme, with the allocation determined by the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings in the respective regions.
Multi-department convergence and local planning
The ‘Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ will see integration of 36 existing schemes across 11 central departments, along with contributions from state-level programs and private stakeholders. Special committees at national, state, and district levels will monitor and manage the planning and execution of the scheme.
District-level planning will be led by a District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, comprising officials and progressive farmers. These plans will align with national priorities like soil and water conservation, natural and organic farming, and self-sufficiency in agriculture.
Monthly performance tracking on 117 indicators
To ensure measurable outcomes, the scheme will be monitored using 117 key performance indicators (KPIs) via a dedicated digital dashboard. Monthly reviews will help track progress, while NITI Aayog and Central Nodal Officers will oversee district-level implementation and guidance.
Towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in agriculture
Officials believe that as these 100 selected districts see improvements, overall national agricultural indicators will also rise. The scheme is expected to bring higher productivity, enhanced value addition, and greater livelihood opportunities in the rural economy, furthering the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).