Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Overview

The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) is a flagship agricultural transformation scheme announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 (1 February 2025) and formally launched by PM Narendra Modi on 11 October 2025 at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi. The Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 16 July 2025.

PMDDKY aims to catalyse agricultural growth in 100 low-productivity districts through saturation-based convergence of 36 existing Central schemes across 11 Ministries/Departments. With an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore for six years (FY 2025-26 to FY 2030-31), totalling ₹1.44 lakh crore, it is one of the largest coordinated agricultural development programmes in India.

District Selection Criteria

The 100 districts are identified based on three key indicators:

1. Low crop productivity — below national/state average yields
2. Moderate crop intensity — scope to increase cropping cycles
3. Below-average credit parameters — low institutional credit disbursement to agriculture

Each State/UT gets a minimum of 1 district, with the total number of districts per State based on the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of selected districts.

Key Focus Areas

Enhancing Agricultural Productivity

• Promote high-yield, climate-resilient crop varieties
• Expand soil health card coverage and targeted nutrient management
• Improve seed replacement rate through certified seed distribution

Crop Diversification and Sustainable Agriculture

• Shift from cereal monoculture to pulses, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables
• Promote natural farming and organic agriculture practices
• Integrate agroforestry and mixed farming systems

Post-Harvest Infrastructure

• Build and upgrade storage facilities at panchayat and block levels
• Cold chain infrastructure for perishable commodities
• Warehouse and drying yard construction linked to e-NAM

Irrigation Improvement

• Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) expansion
• Watershed development and water harvesting
• Repair and renovation of existing canal systems

Credit Facilitation

• Increase Kisan Credit Card (KCC) coverage in target districts
• Facilitate long-term investment credit for farm infrastructure
• Introduce the Grameen Credit Score framework (see below)

Major Sub-Components

1. Building Rural Prosperity and Resilience

Addresses under-employment in agriculture through skilling, investment, and technology. The focus is on:

• Rural women, young farmers, rural youth
• Marginal and small farmers (holdings <2 hectares)
• Landless agricultural families
• Goal: “Migration should be an option, not a necessity”
• Integrates allied sectors: animal husbandry, fisheries, beekeeping

2. Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses

A dedicated 6-year mission (2025-26 to 2030-31) with a budgetary allocation of ₹11,440 crore, launched alongside PMDDKY:

• Production target: Scale up domestic pulses production to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31
• Area target: Expand cultivation area to 310 lakh hectares by 2030-31
• Focus crops: Tur (Arhar), Urad, and Masoor — the three pulses India imports most
• Emphasis on climate-resilient seeds, enhancing protein content, improving productivity
• Procurement guarantee: Central agencies (NAFED and NCCF) will procure Tur, Urad, and Masoor from registered farmers for the next 4 years
• Linked to PM-AASHA’s enhanced PSS procurement for these three pulses

3. Comprehensive Programme for Vegetables & Fruits

• Partnership with States to promote production, efficient supply chains, and processing
• Institutional mechanisms involving FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) and cooperatives
• Focus on reducing post-harvest losses (currently 15-30% for fruits and vegetables)
• Integration with Operation Greens and Mega Food Parks schemes

4. Grameen Credit Score

• Public Sector Banks will develop a dedicated Grameen Credit Score framework
• Designed to serve credit needs of SHG members and rural populations
• Addresses the problem of rural residents lacking formal credit history (CIBIL scores)
• Will enable faster loan approvals for small and marginal farmers

Implementation and Monitoring Framework

Three-Tier Committee Structure

1. District Dhan-Dhaanya Samiti — prepares the District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan; includes progressive farmers as members
2. State-Level Committee — coordinates between district plans and State schemes
3. National-Level Committee — oversees convergence across 11 Central Ministries/Departments

Monitoring Dashboard

• Progress tracked on 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) via a central dashboard
• Monthly review to assess performance, highlight gaps, and promote accountability
• KPIs cover: crop yields, irrigation coverage, credit disbursement, storage capacity, farmer income, soil health, seed replacement rate

Convergence of 36 Schemes Across 11 Departments

Instead of creating a new programme with separate funding, PMDDKY uses saturation-based convergence — directing existing scheme resources into 100 priority districts. Key converging schemes include:

• PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
• Soil Health Card scheme, National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture
• PM-AASHA (Price Support Scheme)
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)
• National Livestock Mission, Blue Revolution (fisheries)
• MGNREGA (for farm infrastructure works)

Budget allocations announced alongside PMDDKY:

• ₹1,000 crore for Mission for Pulses
• ₹500 crore for Mission for Vegetables and Fruits
• ₹100 crore for Makhana Board (Bihar’s fox nut industry)
• ₹100 crore for Mission on Hybrid Seeds
• ₹500 crore for Cotton Technology Mission

Latest Developments

• Formal Launch (11 October 2025): PM Narendra Modi formally launched PMDDKY at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi, after the Union Cabinet approved the scheme on 16 July 2025.
• Central Nodal Officers Appointed (January 2026): The Central Government appointed Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) for reviewing and monitoring the 100 aspirational agricultural districts under PMDDKY, following instructions issued on 3 October 2025.
• Rabi Season Rollout: PMDDKY became operational for the Rabi season starting October 2025, with applications opening in September 2025, enabling immediate on-ground implementation.
• 117 KPIs Dashboard Live: A central digital dashboard tracking 117 Key Performance Indicators (including crop yields, loan disbursals, storage capacity, and seed replacement rates) is operational with monthly review cycles.
• Three-Tier Governance Activated: District Dhan-Dhaanya Samitis (with progressive farmer members), State-Level Committees, and a National-Level Committee have been constituted across all 100 target districts for coordinated implementation.
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: The dedicated 6-year pulse mission (Rs 11,440 crore) is underway alongside PMDDKY, with NAFED and NCCF actively procuring Tur, Urad, and Masoor from registered farmers under the 4-year procurement guarantee.
• Convergence of 36 Schemes: All 36 Central schemes across 11 Departments — including PM-KISAN, PMFBY, PMKSY, and MGNREGA — are being directed through saturation-based convergence into the 100 priority districts.

Prelims Importance

• PMDDKY announced in Union Budget 2025-26 (1 February 2025)
• Cabinet approval: 16 July 2025; formal launch: 11 October 2025 at IARI Pusa, New Delhi
• Annual outlay: ₹24,000 crore; total over 6 years: ₹1.44 lakh crore (2025-26 to 2030-31)
• Covers 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity, below-average credit
• Benefits 1.7 crore farmers, focus on small & marginal farmers (<2 hectares = 86% of India’s farming population)
• Convergence model: 36 Central schemes across 11 Departments (no separate allocation)
• Monitoring: 117 KPIs tracked on a central dashboard, reviewed monthly
• Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: ₹11,440 crore over 6 years; target 350 lakh tonnes production, 310 lakh hectares area
• Focus pulses: Tur, Urad, and Masoor (highest import dependence)
• Grameen Credit Score: to be developed by Public Sector Banks for rural/SHG credit access
• NAFED and NCCF will procure Tur, Urad, Masoor for 4 years from registered farmers
• Makhana Board allocation: ₹100 crore (Makhana/fox nut is primarily grown in Bihar)
• IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute) was established in 1905 and is headquartered in New Delhi

Mains & Interview Importance

GS3 — Indian Economy (Agriculture, Growth & Development)

• Analyse the convergence model of PMDDKY vs traditional standalone scheme approach — is convergence more effective or does it lead to diffused accountability?
• Discuss how the 100-district saturation approach can address inter-district disparities in agricultural productivity
• Evaluate the Grameen Credit Score as an innovation in financial inclusion for rural India
• Compare PMDDKY with previous area-based schemes: BRGF (Backward Regions Grant Fund), Aspirational Districts Programme

GS3 — Food Security & Self-Sufficiency

• India imports ~15% of its pulse requirement — can the Aatmanirbharta in Pulses mission achieve the 350 lakh tonne target?
• Discuss the link between crop diversification (away from rice-wheat) and nutritional security
• Analyse the role of FPOs in transforming Indian agriculture from subsistence to market-oriented

GS2 — Governance (Cooperative Federalism)

• PMDDKY requires Centre-State coordination across 11 departments — discuss implementation challenges
• How does the 3-tier committee structure (District-State-National) ensure accountability?

Essay Connections

• “Prosperity begins at the farm: transforming India’s 100 most vulnerable agricultural districts”
• “Convergence vs creation: the new paradigm in Indian governance”

Interview Angles

• “With 36 schemes already existing, why was PMDDKY needed? Is it genuine convergence or just re-labelling?”
• “Can 117 KPIs be meaningfully tracked at the district level given India’s data infrastructure challenges?”
• “The scheme targets 100 districts — what about the remaining low-productivity districts?”
• “How will Grameen Credit Score address the problem of over-indebtedness among small farmers?”
• “Is the 4-year procurement guarantee for Tur, Urad, and Masoor sufficient to change cropping patterns, or do farmers need longer-term assurance?”

Sources: PIB, PM India, Krishi Jagran, Drishti IAS