PM Modi Launches Rs. 35,440 Crore Agri Schemes to Boost Self-Reliance and Farmer Welfare. 

New Delhi:

In a major push to transform Indian agriculture and empower millions of farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched two flagship schemes with a combined outlay of Rs. 35,440 crore. These include the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission, aimed at enhancing productivity, ensuring nutritional security, and strengthening India’s agricultural exports.

The announcement was made during a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister also interacted with farmers, agricultural scientists, and rural women entrepreneurs.

Two Schemes with a Vision of Self-Reliance and Empowerment

1. PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana – Rs. 24,000 crore

This scheme is targeted at accelerating agricultural development in 100 selected districts, identified based on:

• Agricultural output per unit of land
• Cropping intensity
• Access to institutional credit

The scheme brings 36 government programmes under one umbrella, with a focus on convergence, collaboration, and healthy competition among districts — a model inspired by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme.

PM Modi stated that localized action plans tailored to each district’s agro-climatic conditions will be the key to this scheme’s success, with District Collectors tasked with driving implementation on the ground.

2. Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission – Rs. 11,440 crore

This mission seeks to boost domestic pulse production, reduce dependency on imports, and improve nutritional security, especially for India’s largely vegetarian population.

Key targets include:

• Increasing pulse cultivation area by 35 lakh hectares
• Boosting production of tur, urad, and masoor dal
• Strengthening procurement and market access for 2 crore pulse farmers

A Vision Rooted in Reform and Innovation

The Prime Minister emphasized that the schemes are part of a broader strategy to modernize Indian agriculture. “We have undertaken reforms from seed to market,” he declared, citing initiatives like:

• Distribution of 25 crore Soil Health Cards
• Expansion of micro-irrigation to over 100 lakh hectares
• Revival of six major fertilizer plants
• Formation of over 10,000 FPOs to improve market linkage
• Disbursal of Rs. 2 lakh crore in crop insurance claims under PM Fasal Bima Yojana

These steps, PM Modi said, have helped double agricultural exports and increase foodgrain production by 90 million metric tonnes over the past 11 years.

Empowering Women and Small Farmers

A key highlight of the event was the Prime Minister’s focus on women-led development in agriculture. Initiatives like:

• Namo Drone Didis, where rural women use drones for efficient pesticide and fertilizer application
• 70,000 Krishi Sakhis guiding natural farming practices
• Formation of 17,000+ natural farming clusters

PM Modi noted that such interventions not only improve productivity but also create new income streams for small and landless farmers, especially women.

A Boost to Allied Sectors: Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Beekeeping

Alongside the two major schemes, the Prime Minister also inaugurated and dedicated projects worth Rs. 5,450 crore in animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors and laid the foundation for new projects worth Rs. 815 crore.

These allied sectors, he said, are crucial for enhancing rural incomes and making Indian agriculture more diversified and resilient.

GST Relief and Lower Input Costs for Farmers

PM Modi highlighted how recent GST reforms have reduced prices of agricultural equipment and inputs:

• Tractors are now Rs. 40,000 cheaper
• Costs of organic fertilizers, bio-pesticides, drip irrigation systems, and harvesting tools have been lowered, easing the financial burden on farmers and encouraging sustainable practices.

Farmers at the Heart of a Developed India

The Prime Minister described farmers as one of the four pillars of a developed India, reiterating the government’s long-term vision of making agriculture profitable, innovative, and export-oriented.

“Indian farmers have made the nation self-reliant in food production. Now they must lead the movement to make India a developed nation,” he declared, urging farmers to target global markets and grow export-ready crops.

Tributes to Visionaries of Rural Development

Marking the birth anniversaries of Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh, both known for their contributions to democratic and rural development, the Prime Minister paid tribute by dedicating the schemes to their vision of a strong and self-sufficient rural India.

A New Era for Indian Agriculture

The launch of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission signals a major step forward in India’s agricultural transformation journey. With a focus on integration, innovation, and inclusivity, these schemes are set to benefit crores of farmers, ensure nutritional and economic security, and pave the way for a self-reliant agricultural economy.