New ₹24,000 Crore Farm Initiative to Transform 100 Indian Districts

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has greenlit the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a six-year agricultural program aimed at revitalizing farming in 100 underperforming districts across India, with an annual budget of ₹24,000 crore. The initiative, consolidates 36 existing schemes from 11 central departments to enhance agricultural productivity, irrigation, post-harvest storage, and credit access for farmers.

The PMDDKY will establish committees at district, state, and national levels to oversee planning, implementation, and monitoring. The District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which includes progressive farmers, will finalize district-level agricultural plans tailored to local agro-climatic conditions. These plans will align with national priorities, including crop diversification, water and soil conservation, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, and the promotion of natural and organic farming.

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The scheme’s progress will be tracked monthly using a dashboard with 117 key performance indicators, ensuring transparency and efficiency. By integrating existing programs and fostering collaboration with state schemes and private partners, the initiative aims to streamline agricultural support and drive sustainable growth in targeted districts starting in the 2025-26 fiscal year.