Introduction

During the 1990s, India’s economy underwent a major structural shift due to liberalization and economic reforms initiated in 1991. Agriculture struggled to keep pace, leading to a sharp decline in its contribution to GDP from 35% (1990) to 18% (2000), as industries and services witnessed rapid growth and became the dominant contributors to economic growth. India’s agricultural sector employs nearly 50% of the workforce but contributes only 17.5% to the GDP 📉 as the data of year 2024. Despite various government schemes like PM-KISAN and MSP, many farmers especially in backward districts struggle with low productivity, mounting debt, and limited access to modern technology.

To counter this @Modi led government has introduced Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Let us deep dive to understand this!

🔑 Key Features of the Scheme

1️⃣ Targeting 100 Low-Productivity Districts: The scheme focuses on districts with low crop yield, poor irrigation, and weak credit facilities, aiming to introduce advanced farming techniques to boost productivity in these areas.

2️⃣ ₹50,000 Crore Allocation for Modernizing Agriculture: This includes investment in new irrigation projects, farm mechanization, and high-yield seed research, along with infrastructure development for storage warehouses and cold chains to prevent food wastage.

3️⃣ Crop Diversification and Sustainable Farming: It encourages farmers to grow alternative crops to reduce dependency on traditional wheat-rice cycles while providing training on organic and climate-resilient farming techniques.

4️⃣ Strengthening the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme: The scheme increases loan limits for small and marginal farmers, fishermen, and dairy farmers while simplifying credit disbursement to reduce dependency on moneylenders.

5️⃣ Setting Up the Second National Gene Bank: India will establish a second gene bank with over 10 lakh plant germplasm lines to preserve biodiversity and ensure food security.

🌟 Potential Benefits of the Scheme

1️⃣ Higher Productivity: Improved irrigation, better seeds and modern equipment will increase farm output, directly impacting rural incomes.

2️⃣ Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses: Investment in cold storage and warehousing will reduce food wastage and ensure better market access.

3️⃣ Greater Access to Institutional Credit: Enhancements in Kisan Credit Cards will reduce farmers’ dependency on high-interest loans.

4️⃣ Promoting Rural Employment: The scheme’s focus on rural infrastructure and agro-processing will create jobs and help reduce migration.

⚠️ Challenges & Potential Roadblocks

Over the years, the Indian government has launched several direct benefit transfer (DBT) and farm support schemes aimed at uplifting farmers. However, many faced significant implementation challenges, preventing them from delivering their full potential. With the introduction of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, there is renewed hope that this initiative will be effectively executed, ensuring tangible benefits for farmers across the country. By learning from past shortcomings and refining their approach, the government has the opportunity to implement this scheme efficiently and drive meaningful progress in the agricultural sector.

✅ Conclusion

We remain hopeful that The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, announced by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, will bring transformative change to India's agricultural sector. This much-needed initiative is designed to uplift struggling farmers, enhance rural prosperity, and drive sustainable growth. If implemented effectively, it has the potential to strengthen food security, increase farm incomes, and alleviate rural poverty. Moreover, by fostering agricultural modernization and productivity, this scheme could enable the sector to contribute more significantly to India's GDP than ever before. 🚀