Press Information Bureau

 

Introduction

On 16^th July 2025, the Union Cabinet approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) — a landmark initiative for transforming India's agricultural landscape. First announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, the scheme is designed to catalyse growth in 100 agri-districts through saturation-based convergence of 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries, with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for a period of six years starting FY 2025–26. The convergence will also include state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector. Rather than introducing new schemes, PMDDKY ensures coordinated delivery of existing programmes to the last-mile farmer, avoiding duplication and enhancing impact.

The scheme draws on insights from the successful Aspirational District Programme and is projected to benefit 1.7 crore farmers directly.

 

 

Objectives of PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

The PMDDKY aims to serve as a multi-dimensional rural development intervention. Its five core objectives are:

 

 

 

 

 

These objectives aim not only to improve farm incomes but also to ensure climate-resilient and market-oriented farming systems.

 

Targeted Districts: Criteria and Selection

 

The scheme identifies 100 districts based on:

• Low productivity
• Low cropping intensity
• 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 one district from each state is to be selected, ensuring balanced geographic inclusion. These districts will be the focal points of convergence-driven agricultural reform, tailored to their agro-climatic conditions and cropping patterns.

 

 

Structural Design and Institutional Mechanism

 

District-Level Planning and Implementation

 

Each selected district under PMDDKY will establish a District Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (DDKY) Samiti, chaired by the District Collector or Gram Panchayat. This committee will include progressive farmers and departmental officers to ensure a broader representation. The DDKY Samiti will prepare a District Agriculture & Allied Activities Plan through:

• Extensive stakeholder consultations
• Understanding the cropping pattern and allied activities
• Analysis of local agro-ecological conditions
• Alignment with national priorities such as:
  • Crop diversification
  • Soil and water conservation
  • Expansion of natural and organic farming
  • Self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors

 

These plans will guide the coordinated implementation of all converging schemes in the district. The progress of each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be tracked using 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on a central monitoring dashboard, reviewed monthly to assess performance, highlight gaps, and promote accountability.

 

Multi-Tier Governance

 

The scheme will be governed through a three-tier implementation structure:

• District-level committees
• State-level steering groups
• National-level oversight bodies

 

Teams similar to the ones at the district level will also be formed at the state level, with the responsibility of ensuring effective convergence of schemes in districts. Two teams will be formed at the central level: one under Union Ministers, and another under Secretaries and department officers. Each level will ensure strategic planning, execution, and issue resolution.

 

To bolster on-ground oversight, Central Nodal Officers will be appointed for each district to conduct regular field visits, monitor progress, and coordinate with local teams.

 

 

 

Institutional and Knowledge Support

 

For effective implementation, PMDDKY will also integrate support from key institutions:

• NITI Aayog will play a central role in:
  • Strategic guidance
  • Capacity-building for state and district-level functionaries
  • Tracking district-level progress
  • Creating a dashboard to monitor the progress
  • Reviewing and guiding district-level plans
• Each district will also be paired with a Central or State Agricultural University to act as a technical knowledge partner.
• This collaboration between governance, academic, and field institutions ensures that the scheme is locally grounded, scientifically informed, and outcome-driven.

 

Digital Ecosystem for Monitoring and Farmer Support

 

PMDDKY is supported by a strong digital backbone for transparency, participation, and real-time oversight:

 

 

 

 

Expected Outcomes

 

A major point to note is that this scheme will focus on fruits, fisheries, beekeeping, animal husbandry, and agroforestry, not just crop agriculture. By leveraging scale, technology, and institutional strength, the scheme is poised to be a game changer in rural transformation. The scheme will result in:

• higher productivity,
• value addition in agriculture and allied sector,
• local livelihood creation,
• increase in domestic production,
• and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat).

 

Conclusion

 

The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana brings together the power of convergence, decentralised planning, and real-time monitoring to tackle some of the most persistent structural challenges in Indian agriculture. With a robust financial commitment of ₹24,000 crore per year for 6 years, and support from NITI Aayog, agricultural universities, and 11 ministries, the scheme aims to uplift 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop density and below average credit parameters, to create resilient rural livelihoods, and deliver on the promise of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" in agriculture.

 

References

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2145366

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2145146

Niti Aayog

https://www.niti.gov.in/aspirational-districts-programme

PM India

https://www.pmindia.gov.in/en/news_updates/cabinet-approves-the-pm-dhan-dhaanya-krishi-yojana/

Click here to see PDF.

*****

RT | SM

(Backgrounder ID: 154909) Visitor Counter : 2857