PM Modi launches Rs 35,440-Cr agri schemes to boost production

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major agricultural schemes with a combined outlay of Rs 35,440 crore, urging farmers to enhance production to meet domestic and global demand. The schemes include the Rs 24,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the Rs 11,440-crore Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. The launch event, organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), took place at the Pusa campus, New Delhi.

Addressing the gathering, Modi highlighted the pivotal role of farmers in realising the vision of a developed India by 2047. The PM-DDKY aims to transform 100 low-performing agricultural districts under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) model. The scheme will focus on enhancing crop productivity, promoting crop diversification, improving irrigation and storage facilities, and ensuring access to credit in selected districts.

The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses seeks to raise pulses production from the current 252.38 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030–31. The mission also targets increasing pulses acreage by 35 lakh hectares by 2030, which, if achieved, could significantly reduce import dependency.

In addition to launching the schemes, Modi inaugurated projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore in sectors including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing. He also laid the foundation stones for projects valued at around Rs 815 crore.

The Prime Minister highlighted achievements in agriculture during his tenure, noting that farm exports have doubled, foodgrain production has increased by 900 lakh tonnes, and fruits and vegetables production has risen by 640 lakh tonnes. He also cited the recent reduction in goods and services tax (GST) rates, which has lowered the cost of farm machinery, including tractors, benefiting rural India. Both the newly launched schemes the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses have been allocated separate budgetary outlays, rather than drawing funds from existing programmes, underscoring the government’s renewed focus on agriculture and self-reliance.

Modi remarked on the government’s comprehensive reforms in the agriculture sector, describing initiatives that span from “Beej se Bazaar tak” (seed to market). He contrasted current measures with the previous Congress government, accusing it of neglecting the sector.

The launch event was attended by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary.