Cabinet OKs ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ for 100 districts with Rs 24,000 crore annual outlay

The Union cabinet Wednesday approved the “Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana” for a period of six years, starting 2025-26. The scheme aims to enhance agricultural productivity and promote sustainable practices in 100 districts across the country at an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore.

“The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana for a period of six years, beginning with 2025-26 to cover 100 districts,” said Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a press briefing on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting.

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He further said that the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana would augment post-harvest storage, improve irrigation facilities, and enhance farm productivity.

The Scheme, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 in her Budget speech, aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the Panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit.

The scheme draws inspiration from NITI Aayog’s Aspirational District Programme which focuses exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors.

Vaishnav said that the Scheme would be implemented through convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, other state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.

Also, 100 districts will be identified based on three key indicators of low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. The number of districts in each state/UT will be based on the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of 1 district will be selected from each state.

Asserting that committees will be formed at district, state, and national level for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of the scheme, Vaishnav said: “A District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be finalized by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which will also have progressive farmers as members. The District Plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors as well as expansion of natural and organic farming.”

“Progress of the Scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on 117 key Performance Indicators through a dashboard on a monthly basis. NITI Aayog will also review and guide the district plans. Besides, Central Nodal Officers appointed for each district will also review the scheme on a regular basis,” the Union minister added.