New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major initiatives — the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — with a combined outlay of ₹35,440 crore to strengthen India’s agriculture sector.
Announced during a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the event marked the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan. The new schemes aim to enhance farm productivity, promote crop diversification, and build agricultural self-reliance across the country.
The PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, with an allocation of ₹24,000 crore, focuses on improving irrigation, boosting post-harvest storage at the block and panchayat levels, facilitating access to agricultural credit, and encouraging sustainable farming in 100 selected districts.
Meanwhile, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore, seeks to expand the area under pulse cultivation, enhance productivity, and strengthen the value chain from procurement to processing. It also aims to reduce import dependency and ensure fair prices for farmers.
Addressing the gathering, PM Modi interacted with farmers and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to rural development and agricultural modernization. He emphasized the need for innovation-driven growth and capacity building to make India a global leader in agri-exports.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated projects worth over ₹5,450 crore and laid foundation stones for additional projects valued at ₹815 crore. These projects span agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing, including Artificial Insemination Training Centres in Bengaluru and Jammu & Kashmir, Centres of Excellence in Amreli and Banas, and Milk Powder Plants in Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara.
Other initiatives include fish feed plants under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, integrated cold chains, and value addition infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses and improve farmers’ incomes.
The programme also highlighted key achievements under ongoing government schemes, including 50 lakh farmers joining 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), certification of 50,000 farmers under the National Mission for Natural Farming, and computerisation of 10,000 multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). Many PACS have diversified into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs), integrating digital and cooperative growth.
The launch reaffirmed the government’s long-term focus on transforming the agricultural landscape, ensuring food security, and empowering rural India through technology and infrastructure development.
