With Bihar elections on the horizon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major central schemes aimed at transforming 100 low-performing agricultural districts and enhancing pulse production to reduce imports. The combined outlay of the schemes is ₹35,440 crore.
Addressing farmers and policymakers at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, PM Modi emphasized the dual goal of self-reliance and global competitiveness in agriculture. On one hand, we will have to be self-sufficient, while on the other hand, we will have to produce for the global market. We have to focus on those crops which can dominate the world agri market,” he said.
The two newly launched initiatives include:
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PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana: With an outlay of ₹24,000 crore, this scheme targets 100 low-productivity districts, aiming to boost farm output through interventions such as improved irrigation coverage and crop diversification.
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Mission for Self-Sufficiency in Pulses: Allocated ₹11,440 crore, this mission seeks to increase domestic pulse production and reduce dependence on imports.
The schemes will be implemented from the upcoming rabi (winter sowing) season and will continue through 2030-31.
Under the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, the 100 identified districts span several states, with Uttar Pradesh having the highest number (12), followed by Maharashtra (9); Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan (8 each); Bihar (7); Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, and West Bengal (4 each); Assam, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh (3 each); and Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir (2 each).
“These districts were selected based on low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and below-average access to credit,” the PM noted. He highlighted that 36 schemes across 11 central departments will be converged under the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to ensure holistic development. “We have often heard the phrase ‘36 ka aankda,’ implying two sides are completely at odds. But as a government, we challenge such perceptions and reverse them,” he said.
On the occasion, PM Modi also virtually inaugurated 1,054 completed projects valued at over ₹5,450 crore and laid the foundation stones for an additional 50 projects worth around ₹815 crore. These initiatives span sectors including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing, signaling a comprehensive push to strengthen India’s agri-based economy.
PM Modi concluded by urging farmers to lead the nation toward self-reliance in food production and play a key role in building a developed India.
