Why in the News?
The Centre has announced the identification of 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to boost farm productivity, sustainability, and rural incomes.
What are Aspirational Agriculture Districts (AADs)?
- Overview: The AADs comprise 100 districts across 29 States and Union Territories with low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and limited access to agricultural credit.
- Selection Basis: Districts were chosen to ensure balanced regional representation, considering each state’s net cropped area and number of operational holdings.
- Purpose: Designed as focal points for agricultural transformation, akin to the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) model for holistic development.
- Objective: Accelerate agricultural growth and raise farmers’ income through data-driven governance, technology adoption, and scheme convergence.
- Leading States: Uttar Pradesh (12), Maharashtra (9), Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan (8 each), and Bihar (7).
- Implementation Mechanism: Each district formulates a District Agriculture Development Plan (DADP) integrating existing central and state schemes for productivity enhancement, irrigation, crop diversification, and credit inclusion.
- Monitoring Framework: Employs a performance-based index with measurable outcome indicators for real-time progress tracking.
About Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY):
- Overview: Introduced in July 2025 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Aim: Transform 100 low-performing agricultural districts into high-productivity, market-linked, and climate-resilient hubs.
- Design: Modeled on the Aspirational Districts Programme, emphasizing saturation-based development in agriculture.
- Key Objectives:
- Boost productivity through modern technology and best practices.
- Promote crop diversification and climate-resilient farming.
- Expand irrigation coverage and credit access.
- Strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, storage, and value addition at grassroots levels.
- Build market linkages and sustainable practices for inclusive rural growth.
- Implementation Structure:
- Convergence of 36 schemes from 11 Ministries/Departments, with no separate budget allocation.
- District PMDDKY Committees, headed by Collectors, plan and execute projects.
- 100 Central Nodal Officers (CNOs), mostly Joint Secretaries, monitor implementation.
- A digital dashboard tracks 117 indicators across agriculture, irrigation, and markets.
- Budget & Duration: Convergence-based outlay of ₹24,000 crore annually for six years (FY 2025–31), benefiting 1.7 crore farmers.
- Expected Outcomes:
- Improved productivity, resilience, and market efficiency.
- Enhanced credit systems and localized agri-infrastructure.
- Contribution toward “Viksit Bharat 2047” through sustainable agricultural transformation.
[UPSC 2020] Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes?
Options: (a) 1, 2 and 5 only (b) 1, 3 and 4 only * (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
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