Cabinet clears budget scheme of Rs 24,000 crore for 100 agricultural districts | India News
NEW DELHI: Aiming to fast-track development of agriculture and allied sectors in 100 under-performing districts in the country, Cabinet Wednesday approved ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for six years beginning 2025-26. The scheme, announced in the Budget, is expected to benefit about 1.7 crore farmers.The scheme aims to enhance productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage infrastructure at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long- and short-term credit.“Today is a significant day for country’s agricultural sector. Cabinet today approved the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana’,” home minister Amit Shah posted on X. With 100 agri-districts being selected across the country for promotion of scientific and modern agriculture, the initiative will make farming profitable, farmers self-reliant, & villages prosperous, he added.The 100 districts will be identified on basis of three key indicators: low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. The scheme will get underway in Oct, during the rabiseason.It will be implemented through convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, other state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector, Union I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, briefing reporters on the decision.As per an official statement, the number of districts in each state/UT will be based on share of net cropped area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of one district will be selected from each state.District plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, as well as expansion of natural and organic farming.“Progress of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on 117 key performance indicators through a dashboard, on a monthly basis,” said the statement.
