Progress review of Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Why in News

The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare reviewed the implementation progress of the Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).

Core facts

1. What it is: PMDDKY is a district focused agriculture development scheme. It converges existing schemes to raise farm productivity in India’s weakest performing agricultural districts.
2. Implementing ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is the nodal ministry. Multiple line departments contribute converged schemes.
3. Coverage: The scheme targets 100 districts. Districts are selected on three parameters. The parameters are low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement.
4. Convergence design: The scheme pools 36 existing schemes across 11 departments. It layers these on a single district plan rather than creating a new fund line.
5. Release specific review figures: The specific progress numbers, district status, and targets reported in PRID 2305501 could not be verified from PIB this run. They are not reproduced here.

Static Context

1. Origin: The scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2025 to 2026. The Union Cabinet approved it in July 2025.
2. Duration: The scheme runs for 6 years from 2025 to 2026.
3. Model: The scheme is modelled on the Aspirational Districts Programme. That programme uses ranking, convergence, and competitive monitoring to lift the weakest districts.
4. Focus areas: The scheme covers productivity, crop diversification, sustainable agriculture, irrigation and water conservation, post harvest storage at panchayat and block level, and farm credit.
5. Monitoring: District, State, and National level committees oversee the scheme. NITI Aayog and assigned Central Nodal Officers support monitoring.

Prelims angle

1. Number of districts covered: 100 districts.
2. Selection parameters: low productivity, low cropping intensity, low credit disbursement.
3. Number of converged schemes: 36 schemes across 11 departments.
4. Parent design model: Aspirational Districts Programme.
5. Nodal ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Mains angle

GS3, agriculture theme (major crops, cropping patterns, agricultural productivity, and scheme convergence). A question can ask how a convergence and district targeting model raises productivity in low performing agricultural districts. It can also ask how crop diversification and integrated farming raise small farmer incomes.

“[2022, GS3, 15] What is Integrated Farming System ? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India ?”

“[2025, GS3, 10] Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.”