SYLLABUS

GS-3: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System-objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

Context: The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana completed its first year on 11 October 2026, marking a year of district-level interventions to improve agricultural productivity, irrigation, credit access and post-harvest infrastructure in 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts.

Key Features of the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

• Identification of districts: The 100 districts were selected using three indicators: low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and low agricultural credit disbursement.The selection also considered the share of net cropped area and operational holdings in each State and Union Territory, with at least one district selected from every State.

Six major objectives: The scheme aims to:Enhance agricultural productivity.

• Promote crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Augment post-harvest storage capacity.
• Improve irrigation infrastructure.
• Facilitate access to short-term and long-term agricultural credit.
• Improve governance and service delivery.

Convergence of Schemes: Integrates 36 existing Central schemes across 11 Ministries and Departments, along with State schemes and private-sector participation, to address district-specific agricultural needs. Key schemes include:PM-KISAN: Income support to farmers.

• PMFBY: Crop insurance.
• PMKSY: Irrigation development.
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY): Holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors.

Three-tier implementation structure:District level: District Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Samiti, headed by the District Collector/District Magistrate, prepares and implements the District Action Plan.

• State level: State Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Samiti, headed by the Chief Secretary, reviews and monitors district plans.
• National level: The National Executive Committee, headed by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the National Monitoring Committee, headed by the Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, oversee implementation.

District Action Plans and monitoring: District Action Plans identify local needs, set targets and annual milestones, and converge relevant schemes.

• Progress is tracked through 121 indicators—74 output indicators and 47 outcome indicators—on the PM-DDKY dashboard.
• Monthly rankings assess district performance on output indicators.

Achievements of PM-DDKY

• Institutional Framework Established: All 100 districts prepared District Action Plans (DAPs), with monitoring committees constituted at district, State and national levels.
• Improved District Performance: The average district score across six objectives increased from 18.85 (April 2026) to 46.89 (August 2026), a gain of 28.04 points.
• Strengthened Monitoring: Monthly district rankings began in November 2025. All 100 districts submitted output data up to August 2026 and outcome data for FY 2025–26.
• FPO Development and Market Linkages: The PM-DDKY FPO Sangam (December 2025) brought together over 72 FPOs from 15 States and 33 districts. Successful examples include:Gadchiroli (Maharashtra): Rice-processing unit (3 tonnes/hour), 900 MT warehouse and ₹1.24 crore turnover.
• Tumakuru (Karnataka): Tiptur FPO recorded ₹1.60 crore turnover.
• Jaisalmer (Rajasthan): Integrated pest management-based cumin cultivation on 2,000 acres and solar-powered irrigation on 500 acres.
• Public-Private Participation: The Department of Public Enterprises included adoption of PM-DDKY districts under Central Public Sector Enterprises' CSR activities for FY 2026–27 and 2027–28.

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

• Uneven Progress: Despite improvement, the average district score remains 46.89, with irrigation (4.91) and post-harvest storage (5.19) requiring greater attention.
• Coordination Challenges: Convergence of 36 Central schemes across 11 Ministries/Departments and State schemes may cause delays in approvals, fund release and implementation.
• Implementation and Infrastructure Gaps: Differences in district-level capacity, technical expertise, irrigation, storage and credit access may affect implementation.
• Limited Long-Term Evidence: Improved dashboard scores do not necessarily reflect higher productivity or farmer incomes. Available success stories are limited, and long-term outcomes remain to be assessed.

Way Forward

• Strengthen District-Specific Planning: Tailor interventions to local agro-climatic conditions, soil health, water availability and farmers' needs, with active participation from Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• Improve Coordination and Funding: Ensure timely integration of DAPs into State plans, faster fund release and stronger coordination among implementing agencies.
• Expand Infrastructure and Market Access: Prioritise micro-irrigation, scientific storage, FPO-led processing, institutional credit and direct market linkages, while replicating successful district models.
• Focus on Measurable Outcomes: Track productivity, farmer incomes, cropping intensity, irrigation coverage and post-harvest losses through regular monitoring and independent evaluations.