We have undertaken reforms, from seeds to the market in the interest of farmers, PM Modi said at the launch event in Delhi
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major initiatives in the agriculture sector — the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission) — with a combined outlay of ₹35,440 crore, aimed at transforming India’s farm economy, enhancing productivity, and promoting self-reliance in food and nutrition.
Speaking at a special Krishi programme held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi, the PM also inaugurated and dedicated projects worth ₹5,450 crore in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors, while laying the foundation stones for additional projects worth around ₹815 crore. He also interacted with farmers before addressing the gathering.
The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, with an outlay of ₹24,000 crore, aims to enhance productivity, improve irrigation facilities, strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, and promote crop diversification across 100 selected districts. The scheme draws inspiration from the government’s successful Aspirational Districts Programme and integrates 36 central schemes to ensure convergence and efficiency in implementation.
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, launched with an outlay of ₹11,440 crore, seeks to expand the area under pulse cultivation by 35 lakh hectares, improve productivity of tur, urad, and masoor, and build a robust value chain for procurement, storage, and processing. The mission is expected to directly benefit two crore pulse farmers and strengthen India’s nutritional security.
“Both the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Dalhan Atmanirbharata Mission will usher in a new era of self-reliance, innovation, and empowerment for India’s farmers,” the PM said, adding that the government’s investment reflects its “unwavering commitment to doubling farmers’ incomes and ensuring food and nutritional security”.
Focus on Sustainable, Inclusive Growth
Highlighting India’s progress in the farm sector since 2014, PM Modi said agricultural exports have nearly doubled, and foodgrain production has risen by 90 million metric tonnes over the past decade. India now ranks first globally in milk production and second in fisheries, he said, crediting the government’s reforms “from seed to market”.
He cited the success of 10,000 farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and over 25 crore Soil Health Cards, along with expanded micro-irrigation, as key enablers of modern, sustainable farming. “We broke away from the apathy of the past and introduced structural reforms that made agriculture more resilient and future-ready,” he said.
The PM lauded the growing role of women in agriculture, noting the success of ‘Lakhpati Didis’ and ‘Namo Drone Didis’, who are leveraging technology for fertilizer spraying and precision farming. Over 17,000 clusters and 70,000 Krishi Sakhis, he said, are promoting natural farming across the country.
Emphasizing that “farmers are one of the four pillars of a developed India,” the PM called upon them to aim beyond self-sufficiency and explore global markets. “Our farmers have made India food-secure. Now, they must lead the way in making India a developed nation,” he concluded.