The Prime Minister’s Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) is a mission-mode agricultural initiative approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025, set to run for six years from FY2025–26. With an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore, the scheme aims to uplift 100 underperforming agricultural districts by strengthening productivity, crop diversification, credit access, irrigation, and rural infrastructure.
Inspired by the success of the Aspirational Districts Programme, PMDDKY seeks to boost the national agricultural average by focusing on lagging regions
Why these 100 Districts?
Districts are selected based on:
- Low productivity
- Moderate cropping intensity
- Below-average credit disbursement
Every state and Union Territory will have at least one district included, determined by net cropped area and farm holdings.
What will PMDDKY Do?
PMDDKY will converge 36 existing central schemes across 11 ministries, alongside state-level programs and public-private partnerships for a unified impact.
Key focus areas include:
- Boosting agricultural yields and cropping intensity
- Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient crop diversification
- Strengthening post-harvest storage infrastructure at panchayat and block levels
- Enhancing irrigation and encouraging water-use efficiency
- Improving short- and long-term credit access for farmers
Potential Impact of PMDDKY
- Approximately 17 million farmers are expected to benefit over six years
- By improving key metrics in these districts, the national average performance in agriculture is expected to rise.
- The scheme aligns with the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat goal by boosting local livelihoods, value addition, and food self-sufficiency
Why PMDDKY could be a game-changer
PMDDKY brings district-level ownership and accountability, linking grassroots planning with national policy direction. By aligning scientific practices from agriculture universities with digital monitoring and local voices, it promises a comprehensive upgrade in rural agricultural outcomes.
By uplifting low-performing districts, the scheme not only strengthens local economies but also elevates India’s overall agricultural resilience and productivity.
