Why in news?
The Union Government recently unveiled the Pradhan Mantri Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), pledging investment of over ₹42,000 crore to transform agriculture in lagging districts. The scheme merges 36 existing programmes across 11 ministries to deliver coordinated support to farmers. Discussions on funding and implementation were ongoing in October 2025.
Roots of the initiative
Since independence India has launched numerous schemes to increase farm productivity, such as the Green Revolution in the 1960s and the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in the 2000s. Yet growth remained uneven across regions, and millions of smallholders continue to face low incomes. The PMDDKY aims to learn from past initiatives by converging resources and focusing on aspirational districts identified for targeted development.
Key features
- Convergence of schemes: The programme combines interventions for irrigation, seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, marketing, credit and extension services, avoiding duplication and ensuring better coordination.
- Cluster approach: Districts are grouped according to agro‑climatic zones and specific crop potential. Each cluster will receive customised packages suited to local conditions.
- Infrastructure investment: Funds will support micro‑irrigation, warehouses, cold chains and village‑level food processing units to reduce post‑harvest losses.
- Capacity building: Training for farmers on modern agronomy, organic practices and digital platforms will be scaled up. Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) will get grants to increase bargaining power.
- Inclusivity: Special attention is paid to women farmers, tribals and those in rain‑fed areas. Subsidies for pulses and millets encourage diversification and nutrition security.
Expected outcomes
By pooling resources and using data to plan interventions, the government hopes to raise farm incomes, reduce regional disparities and strengthen food security. Successful implementation will depend on timely fund release, effective monitoring and collaboration between central and state agencies. Farmers’ organisations have welcomed the scheme but stress the need to ensure transparency and avoid bureaucratic delays.