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Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

17 Jul 2025 GS 3 Govt schemes & initiatives
Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) Click to view full image

Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Why in news :
The Union Cabinet approved the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, to boost agricultural productivity and promote sustainable farming practices across India.

Key Features of PMDDKY:

  • Objective:
    Enhance productivity, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and increase resilience in low-performing agricultural districts.

  • Budgetary Allocation:
    ₹24,000 crore per year for 6 years, starting 2025–26.

  • Target Beneficiaries:
    Estimated to benefit 1.7 crore farmers.

  • Scheme Convergence:
    Merges 36 existing schemes from 11 Ministries/Departments, leveraging central, State, and private sector resources.

  • Implementation Model:
    Based on the Aspirational Districts Programme, focusing on convergence, competition, and collaboration.

                                       

District Selection Criteria:

  • 100 districts identified initially.

  • Criteria include:

    • Low productivity

    • Low cropping intensity

    • Low credit disbursement

  • At least one district from each State/UT, based on Net Cropped Area and operational holdings.

Planning and Monitoring Mechanism:

  • Three-tier committees at:

    • District level (District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti – includes progressive farmers)

    • State level

    • National level

  • Each district will prepare a District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan aligned with:

    • Crop diversification

    • Water and soil conservation

    • Natural and organic farming

    • Self-sufficiency in agriculture

  • Monthly monitoring of progress.

Components Covered:

  • Strengthening post-harvest storage at panchayat/block level

  • Improving irrigation infrastructure

  • Facilitating short-term and long-term agricultural credit

  • Promotion of natural and organic farming

  • Encouragement of allied sectors and value-added agriculture

Expert Opinion:

  • Concerns Raised:

    • Use of low credit disbursement as a selection criterion could be counterproductive.

    • Suggested using annual net agricultural income per hectare for better district targeting.

    • Emphasized that a resilient system should reduce dependence on credit while improving farmer incomes.

UPSC Syllabus:

  • GS Paper III: Agriculture, Government schemes, cropping patterns, irrigation, rural development, sustainable farming.

  • GS Paper II: Governance, convergence of schemes, Centre-State cooperation.

  • Essay Paper: Sustainable development, inclusive agriculture, doubling farmers' income.

  • Prelims: Scheme objectives, budgetary allocation, implementing ministries, and district selection parameters.



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