The Government of India has launched the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) with the goal of developing 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts across 29 states and Union Territories. This initiative is designed to boost agricultural productivity and tackle regional inequalities.
Selection Criteria for Aspirational Agriculture Districts
100 districts have been selected based on criteria such as low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average access to credit. The distribution of districts among states is proportional to the net cropped area and operational holdings, promoting balanced regional development and focused agricultural growth.
Objectives of PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
- Enhancing agricultural productivity.
- Adopting crop diversification and sustainable agriculture practices.
- Augmenting post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block level.
- Improving irrigation facilities.
- Facilitating long-term and short-term credit.
Implementation
This scheme doesn’t have a separate budget; instead, it will be executed by merging 36 schemes from 11 different departments. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will contribute to about 19 of these schemes. Each district is tasked with creating a comprehensive agriculture development plan, with an estimated annual investment of ₹24,000 crore.
Geographical Spread and Districts Selected
Uttar Pradesh boasts the highest number of selected districts, including Mahoba, Sonbhadra, and Prayagraj. In Maharashtra, the chosen districts are Palghar and Yavatmal. Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan each have eight districts on the list. Bihar, which is gearing up for elections, has seven districts included. Other states like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Odisha are also part of this initiative.
