Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday announced that the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) will be launched in October 2025. The scheme will initially cover 100 districts, which will be finalised by the end of this month after Cabinet approval.
The Union Cabinet has cleared the scheme, allocating ₹24,000 crore over six years, aiming to benefit around 1.7 crore farmers across the selected districts.
Speaking at a press conference, Information & Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the scheme will be implemented by integrating 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, along with support from State-level schemes. The plan also allows for private sector participation, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
Bridging the Productivity Gap
The scheme was first announced in the 2025-26 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Its goal is to bring 100 underperforming districts up to the national average in agricultural productivity, focusing on crop diversification and sustainable farming practices.
Minister Chouhan explained that although India’s foodgrain production has risen by over 40% in the last 11 years, productivity remains uneven across states and even within states. Rainfed areas, in particular, often grow only one crop annually, unlike irrigated regions where three crops are grown. These areas also report lower farm credit usage.
Selection Criteria and Rollout
Districts will be chosen based on three key factors:
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Located in rainfed regions
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Low crop yield
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Low farm credit offtake
Chouhan noted the challenge of selecting at least one district from every state, including fully irrigated states like Punjab and Haryana, which already have high productivity in crops like wheat and paddy. Also Read | Farmers Allege Corruption in FPO Model, Urge APMC-Based Procurement
Preparations are underway to finalise the list of districts. The Agriculture Ministry will appoint one central nodal officer per district by July, and a training programme will be held in August to ensure effective implementation.
Monitoring and Execution
The scheme will be closely monitored by NITI Aayog through a results-based approach. At the district level, a coordination committee led by either the District Collector or Panchayat head will oversee execution, working with departments and progressive farmers. A comprehensive District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be created for each district. A state-level team will also support the rollout.
At the central level, two committees—a Group of Ministers and a Group of Secretaries—will work with states to monitor progress.
According to an official statement, PM-DDKY aims to:
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Increase agricultural productivity
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Promote crop diversification and sustainable farming
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Improve post-harvest storage at panchayat and block levels
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Enhance irrigation facilities
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Facilitate both long-term and short-term farm credit
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