India’s unified agricultural vision: PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Sujata Gautam

(sujatagautam2017@gmail.com)

The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhan Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), recently approved by the Union Cabinet, has set the stage for a major policy shift in India’s agricultural landscape. This ambitious umbrella scheme proposes the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 central ministries and departments into a single, cohesive framework. To address inter- and intrastate disparities in agricultural productivity and improve outcomes across the board, PMDDKY is being launched as a comprehensive solution that aims to bring clarity, efficiency, and a better impact to India’s agricultural sector. At the heart of PMDDKY lies the concept of unification and simplification. By merging a diverse array of schemes, including flagship programmes like PM-KISAN and PMFBY, into one umbrella, the government seeks to reduce fragmentation and ensure a streamlined delivery of benefits to farmers. According to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the scheme is tailored to bridge productivity gaps between states and even within states, where vast disparities often exist. The implementation model is designed to be decentralised yet accountable. Under PMDDKY, District Dhan-Dhaanya Samitis will be tasked with identifying relevant state-level schemes that can be subsumed within the larger framework. These Samitis will be the nodal bodies that ensure localised planning and execution, grounded in the specific needs of their respective regions. This is expected to foster a bottom-up planning process, aligning central objectives with local realities. The new scheme is also rooted in the concept of District Plans, reminiscent of the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme. These plans will focus on critical development areas such as crop diversification, water and soil conservation, and self-sufficiency in food production. One hundred districts with low cropping intensity and productivity have been identified for focused intervention. By beginning its rollout during the upcoming rabi crop season in October, PMDDKY is poised to make an immediate impact. A key aspect of the scheme is its projected financial commitment. The government has earmarked an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for the next six years, indicating strong fiscal backing for the programme. The Centre will monitor the implementation of PMDDKY through 117 key performance indicators monthly. This monitoring mechanism is expected to bring in greater transparency and data-driven decision-making, helping identify bottlenecks early and facilitating timely course corrections.

The scheme also encourages partnerships with the private sector, opening doors for innovation, investment, and technology-driven solutions. However, this approach comes with a note of caution. Experts argue that while public-private partnerships (PPPs) have potential, they must be structured for the larger public good and not simply for commercial gains. Agriculture, after all, is the primary source of livelihood for a majority of India’s rural population, and policy decisions must centre on sustainability and self-reliance. Yet, while PMDDKY reflects a strong policy intention, its announcement also comes against a backdrop of decreasing public investment in agriculture. According to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture, budget allocations for the sector as a percentage of total Central Plan outlay have witnessed a steady decline over the past few years. From 3.53% in 2021-22, the share has dropped to 2.51% in 2025-26. This downward trend raises concerns, especially as the new scheme’s success hinges heavily on robust public spending. Critics argue that an umbrella scheme, however well-designed, cannot substitute for increased and consistent investment in agriculture. The complexity and scale of challenges facing the sector, from climate change and land degradation to input costs and market volatility, demand sustained financial commitment. The convergence model may reduce administrative duplication, but without adequate funding, its reach and impact could remain limited. Another concern arises from the trend of shrinking area under cultivation for vital crops. The latest data on kharif crop coverage indicates a decrease in the sowing of oilseeds and pulses. This signals potential risks to food security and underlines the importance of aligning schemes like PMDDKY with larger national goals such as nutritional security and balanced agricultural growth. A mere administrative unification of schemes may not address systemic issues unless complemented by deeper structural reforms. Nevertheless, the scheme’s emphasis on self-reliance, atmanirbharta, is a positive direction. It aims to promote domestic production, reduce import dependency, and generate local employment through value addition in agriculture and allied sectors. By involving multiple stakeholders, including state governments, panchayati raj institutions, cooperative societies, universities, and farmer organizations, the scheme envisions a participatory framework. This can potentially strengthen trust and foster grassroots innovations.

What sets PMDDKY apart is its insistence on tailoring plans at the district level while still aligning with national priorities. This approach acknowledges the vast heterogeneity of Indian agriculture; climatic conditions, cropping patterns, and socio-economic challenges vary significantly across regions. District-specific interventions, if effectively implemented, can optimise resource use and maximise local impact. However, coordination among 11 departments and dozens of sub-schemes is a massive administrative challenge. Ensuring convergence without causing confusion or duplication of responsibilities will require strong institutional mechanisms, clarity in guidelines, and continuous capacity building at the district and block levels. The success of District Dhan-Dhaanya Samitis in planning and implementing the schemes will be critical, and so will be the Centre’s role in providing necessary handholding support.

The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana represents a bold and forward-looking step toward restructuring India’s agricultural support system. Its success will depend not only on effective convergence but also on the political will to back it with sustained public investment. While the scheme offers hope by seeking to harmonise efforts across levels and stakeholders, its real value will lie in how well it translates policies into productivity on the ground. If implemented with care, accountability, and genuine community participation, PMDDKY can be a turning point in India’s journey toward sustainable agriculture, rural resilience, and food security.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}