Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY)

Syllabus: Govt. Schemes (UPSC Prelims)
Source: News on Air

Context:

The Prime Minister has launched the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) — a major agricultural reform initiative designed to transform farming practices in 100 low-performing districts across India.

Overview:

What is it?
PMDDKY is a comprehensive agricultural transformation programme launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. It focuses on modernising Indian farming through better irrigation, technology use, credit access, and market reforms to make agriculture profitable, climate-resilient, and sustainable.

Objectives:

• Raise crop productivity by 20–30% and reduce post-harvest losses below 5%.
• Double farmers’ income by 2030 through market linkages and modern methods.
• Promote climate-smart and technology-driven farming.
• Ensure inclusive growth, supporting women, youth, and small farmers.

Target Areas:

• Geographic Focus: 100 districts identified by NITI Aayog with low productivity, poor credit access, and limited irrigation.
• Priority Beneficiaries: Women farmers, young agripreneurs, and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).

Key Features:

1. Major Funding:
₹1.44 lakh crore over six years (2025–31), with ₹24,000 crore allocated annually.

2. Scheme Convergence:
Brings 36 agricultural schemes under one digital platform for better coordination and implementation.

3. Smart Farming Technologies:
Use of IoT sensors, drones, AI dashboards, and precision farming tools for monitoring and management.

4. Real-Time Monitoring:
A digital dashboard tracks 117 indicators, including crop yield, storage capacity, and irrigation coverage.

5. Infrastructure Push:
Development of irrigation systems, cold storages, warehouses, processing units, and rural markets.

6. Women Empowerment:
Creation of 10,000 Women Producer Groups, benefiting over 5 lakh women farmers.

7. Skill and Knowledge Support:
Workshops through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and international training for 500 farmers in Israel, Japan, and the Netherlands.

8. Green Farming:
Encourages organic, sustainable, and eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Expected Benefits:

• Higher Productivity: 20–30% rise due to high-yield seeds, efficient irrigation, and mechanisation.
• Increased Incomes: 20–40% boost through crop diversification and digital market access (e-NAM and PMDDKY app).
• Employment Growth: 10–15 new jobs per village in allied sectors like dairy and fisheries.
• Reduced Waste: Post-harvest losses cut by 20% via new storage and cold-chain facilities.
• Financial Inclusion: Access to loans between ₹50,000–₹10 lakh at low interest rates through Kisan Credit Cards and NABARD support.

Conclusion:

The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana marks a major step towards modern, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture. By integrating technology, finance, and farmer welfare, it aims to convert low-performing districts into agri-productivity hubs, helping India move closer to the goal of self-reliant and resilient farming.