Latest news with #DistrictDhanDhaanyaSamiti
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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Targeted intervention: Aiming at low-productivity districts to boost growth
The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY), recently approved by the Union Cabinet, marks a shift in India's agricultural policy — from blanket subsidies to targeted, district-level intervention. By focusing on at least one district per state with low productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement, this scheme aims to target areas that have been left behind. It places strong emphasis on enhancing agricultural productivity through crop diversification, sustainable practices, improved post-harvest infrastructure and irrigation facilities, and better financial access. Backed by performance-based monitoring through 117 indicators, the scheme signals a clear intent for systemic reform. Historically, India has experimented successfully with similar models. The Intensive Agriculture District Programme (IADP), launched in 1960, and later expanded as the Intensive Agriculture Area Programme (IAAP), brought subject-matter experts together at district level to drive coordinated intervention. It was within this very framework that high-yielding wheat varieties were introduced in 1966, paving the way for the Green Revolution. This demonstrates that district-led, integrated planning is not new but remains a proven template worth revitalising. However, identifying the 100 'Dhan-Dhaanya' districts and designing 117 performance indicators are only the starting point. Given India's agro-climatic and socio-economic diversity, success will depend on decentralised problem-solving and participatory governance. The formation of the 'District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti' is a welcome move in this direction. It must ensure the inclusion of diverse local actors, such as panchayats, farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), women's self-help groups (SHGs), agri-entrepreneurs, cooperatives, private players, and, above all, farmers, because their participation is indispensable for identifying ground-level bottlenecks, prioritising needs, and ensuring accountability. That said, the scheme's design brings its own risks. It relies on the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, an effort that, while conceptually sound, is in danger of getting mired in bureaucratic complexity. Additionally, the monthly tracking of 117 indicators across 100 districts, though data-driven in spirit, could become an administrative burden. Over-monitoring may shift focus towards box-ticking rather than tangible outcomes. Besides, another vital dimension is the integration of climate resilience and natural-resource management into district-level planning. Many of the identified districts may overlap with regions vulnerable to erratic rainfall, soil degradation, and groundwater stress. A 2019 NITI Aayog report suggested a water-focused approach in framing state-level agricultural policies and incentives. The PM-DDKY must therefore embed climate-smart agriculture, such as drought-resistant crop varieties, precision irrigation, and agroforestry, within district plans. Strengthening local weather forecasting and promoting decentralised water budgeting can help future-proof these districts. Without climate adaptation as a core metric, short-term productivity gains may falter in the face of long-term environmental distress. To mitigate these risks, capacity-building must be prioritised. Targeting low-productivity districts will not only boost economic activity in some of the backward areas, but will help push overall growth.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
PM Scheme for 100 agri districts gets approval
The Union cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), allocating ₹24,000 crore annually for six years. This scheme aims to develop 100 agricultural districts by converging 36 schemes across 11 ministries. District-level master plans, aligned with national goals like crop diversification and organic farming, will be created and implemented through committees at various levels. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Union cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana PMDDKY ), a scheme to develop 100 agricultural districts through the convergence of 36 schemes of 11 scheme has an outlay of ₹24,000 crore per year, said information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw , adding that it would be implemented for six years beginning with the current financial year. A master plan for implementation of PMDDKY, which will include agriculture and allied activities, will be drawn up for every district, he plan will be prepared by District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti headed by the Collector."The district plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors as well as expansion of natural and organic farming," an official statement plans will be based on extensive consultations and understanding cropping patterns and allied activities as per agro-climatic conditions. Committees will be set up at the district, state and national levels for their effective implementation. Central Nodal Officers will be appointed for field visits, review and monitoring. Every district will have central and state agriculture universities as technical knowledge 100 districts will be selected on the basis of three parameters - low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit parameters. At least one district from each state will be selected.
Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the new scheme to develop 100 agri districts across the country
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), a scheme to develop 100 agricultural districts through the convergence of 36 schemes of 11 ministries. The scheme has an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore per year, and will be implemented for six years beginning with the current financial year, 2025-26. A master plan for the implementation of PMDDKY, which will include agriculture and allied activities, will be drawn up for every district, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. This District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be prepared by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti headed by the Collector, and will have progressive farmers as members. 'The District Plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors as well as expansion of natural and organic farming,' an official statement said. The plans will be based on extensive consultations and understanding cropping patterns and allied activities as per agro-climatic conditions. Committees will be set up at the district, state, and national levels for their effective implementation. Central Nodal Officers (CNOs) will be appointed for field visits, review and monitoring. Every district will have central and state agriculture universities as technical knowledge partners. PMDDKY is designed on the lines of the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) that was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January 2018 in the country's 112 most underdeveloped districts, with the aim of transforming them quickly and effectively. The ADP is based on the 3 Cs, Convergence (of central and state schemes), Collaboration (of central and state level nodal officers and District Collectors), and Competition among districts through monthly delta ranking based on incremental progress in 49 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under five broad socio-economic themes: Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion & Skill Development, and Infrastructure. The NITI Aayog, which plays an important role in the implementation and monitoring of the ADP, will also provide 'overall guidance and capacity building' support to PMDDKY. PMDDKY districts too will be ranked based on their performance. The progress of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on a monthly basis on 117 Key Performance Indicators, the statement said. A portal/ dashboard will be developed for this purpose. Aim of the PMDDKY The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget presented on February 1. 'Motivated by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme, our Government will undertake a 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' in partnership with states. Through the convergence of existing schemes and specialised measures, the programme will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters,' Sitharaman had said. According to the government, the program has five objectives: (i) Enhancing agricultural productivity; (ii) Adopting crop diversification and sustainable agriculture practices; (iii) Augmenting post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block level; (iv) Improving irrigation facilities; (v) Facilitating availability of long-term and short-term credit. 'As the targeted outcomes in these 100 districts will improve, the overall average against key performance indicators will rise for the country. The scheme will result in higher productivity, value addition in agriculture and allied sector, local livelihood creation and hence increase domestic production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat). As the indicators of these 100 districts improve, the national indicators will automatically show an upward trajectory,' the government has said. Selection of PMDDKY districts The 100 districts will be selected on the basis of three parameters – low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average credit parameters. Cropping intensity is a measure of how efficiently land is used. It is defined as the percentage of gross cropped area to the net area sown. Simply put, cropping intensity means the number of crops grown on a piece of land in an agricultural year (July-June). At the all-India level, cropping intensity was recorded at 155 per cent in 2021-22, but there were variations across states. 'The number of districts in each state/ Union Territory will be based on the share of net cropped area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of one district will be selected from each state,' the statement said. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Cabinet Clears 'Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi' Scheme To Boost Farming In 100 Districts
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' for six years, beginning 2025-26, to cover 100 districts. The scheme draws inspiration from NITI Aayog's Aspirational District Programme, a first-of-its-kind initiative focusing exclusively on agriculture and allied sectors. It aims to enhance agricultural productivity, increase adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices, augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities and facilitate availability of long-term and short-term credit, according to the official statement. The scheme was announced as part of the Budget proposals for 2025-26 to develop 100 districts under 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana'. The scheme will be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments, other State schemes and local partnerships with the private sector. As many as 100 districts will be identified based on three key indicators of low productivity, low cropping intensity, and less credit disbursement. The number of districts in each state/UT will be based on the share of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of 1 district will be selected from each state, according to an official statement. Committees will be formed at the District, State and National level for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of the Scheme. A District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be finalised by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which will also have progressive farmers as members. The District Plans will be aligned to the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, as well as expansion of natural and organic farming. The progress of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be monitored on 117 key Performance Indicators through a dashboard monthly. NITI Aayog will also review and guide the district plans. Besides, Central Nodal Officers appointed for each district will also review the scheme regularly, the statement explained. As the targeted outcomes in these 100 districts improve, the overall average against key performance indicators will rise for the country. The scheme will result in higher productivity, value addition in agriculture and allied sectors, local livelihood creation and hence increase domestic production and achieve self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat). As the indicators of these 100 districts improve, the national indicators will automatically show an upward trajectory, the statement added.
