PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana: Objectives & Features - UPSC Editorials

Among the new initiatives announced under the Union Budget 2025 unveiled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is one such mega initiative. It will cover 100 districts and help about 1.7 crore farmers. It aims to improve the efficiency of farming and post-harvest storage. It will enhance irrigation facilities and provide financial support.

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Why in the News?

The Finance Minister announced the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana in the Union Budget 2025-26. It is a mission for districts having lower crop production, moderate crop intensity, and not enough credit access. Overall, the total budget for agriculture increased marginally. However, under this scheme, specific funds have been allocated to various missions.

Read the article on the Government Schemes and Initiatives for Doubling Farmers Income!

About the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana

The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is designed to improve farming in areas where productivity is low. The scheme is inspired by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme. It aims to make farming more productive and sustainable. It will use current government programs and add new measures to cover several important areas like:

• crop yield,
• diversity,
• post-harvest management,
• irrigation, and
• financial support.

Read the article on the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)!

Objectives of the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana

Main goals of the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana are as follows:

• The scheme is made to make farming more productive by better farming practices and technologies.
• Encourage farmers to grow different kinds of crops so they can become profitable and reduce risks from a single type of crop.
• Expanding ecologically friendly farming practices that take care of the soil, save water, and reduce the use of chemicals.
• Building better facilities at the local and block level to reduce the losses that happen after harvesting.
• Ensuring more farmlands receive adequate water supply to increase the efficiency of farming.
• Give short-term and long-term loans to farmers that will empower them to invest in better seeds, technology, and other infrastructure.
• Empower the rural dweller with skills, investment, and technology so that they do not have to move to urban areas.

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Key Features of the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana

The salient features of PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana include:

• The program shall be implemented across 100 aspirational districts in the country characterized by low agricultural productivity and average crop intensity.
• It will integrate already existing government schemes to create an all-round improvement in farming.
• Storage facilities developed at local and block levels that reduce post-harvest loss.
• Expansion of irrigation infrastructure as well as irrigation system to distribute water efficiently during farming.
• Financial Allocations:
• Rs 1,000 crores for pulses mission
• Rs 500 crores for vegetable and fruits mission
• Rs 100 crores for the Makhana Board in Bihar.
• Rs 100 crore for high-yielding hybrid seeds.
• Rs 500 crore for a technology mission on cotton.
• Programmes for the training of rural youth, women, and farmers to upgrade their farming techniques and productivity.
• Coordination with international banks for technical and financial support for adopting best farming practices.

Read the article on the List of Agriculture Schemes in India!

Significance of the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana

The PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana is crucial for several reasons:

• This initiative will increase average crop output at the district level, hence making food available on the market side.
• Diversifying and more environmentally-friendly farming makes agriculture less hazardous and risk-proof.
• Appropriate storage structures will reduce loss after harvesting thereby ensuring farmers' better returns in terms of crops.
• Improved irrigation facilities will make the management of water supply by farmers more effective and increase the yields.
• Loans and credit facilities will make it possible for farmers to invest in better tools, seeds, and infrastructure for better productivity.
• Through training and investment, the scheme will reduce the need for people to move out from rural areas to cities to work.
• Special focus on small and marginal farmers, rural women, and landless families would lead to inclusive growth and fair development.
• Enhanced storage and processing facilities can help farmers realize a better price for their produce by value addition and linking them to markets.
• International cooperation for technical and financial help will introduce new and modern farming practices, making the sector more advanced.
• The scheme's comprehensive measures will not only boost farming but also revitalize the rural economy, making rural areas self-sufficient and robust.

Read the article on the Krishi Udan Scheme!

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UPSC Practice Question

1. How do initiatives like the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana align with the broader goals of sustainable agriculture and rural development in India? Analyze the potential challenges in implementing this scheme. (15 marks)
2. Evaluate the significance of increasing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable practices through government schemes like the PM Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana. What roles do financial inclusion and infrastructure development play in this context? (15 marks)