SDG 2: Zero Hunger | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
Institutions: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare | NITI Aayog
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch two major national initiatives — the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission — on 11 October 2025 at New Delhi. Together they aim to raise farm productivity, secure food supplies, and expand India’s self-reliance in pulses.
Under the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, 100 low-productivity districts will receive focused support to raise yields through better irrigation, improved seeds, credit access, and storage infrastructure. The initiative draws on the Aspirational Districts Model and will be monitored via a digital dashboard managed by NITI Aayog.
The Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission targets an expansion of pulse cultivation from 27.5 million to 31 million hectares by 2030-31 and aims to raise production from 24.2 to 35 million tonnes. Farmers will receive 1.26 crore quintals of certified seed and 88 lakh free mini-kits. Around 1,000 processing units will be set up with a subsidy of ₹25 lakh each to strengthen local value addition. Central agencies will procure 100 percent of registered farmers’ produce at MSP, ensuring price assurance and income stability.
Together, the two schemes address the twin goals of productivity equity and nutritional self-sufficiency. By linking district-level yield improvement with pulse self-reliance, the reforms strengthen India’s food-security base, expand rural employment, and advance the ‘One Nation, One Agriculture’ vision.
What is the Aspirational Districts Model? → Launched in 2018 by NITI Aayog, the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) identifies backward or low-performing districts across India and supports them through targeted, data-driven development. It tracks progress in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, skill development, infrastructure, and financial inclusion using real-time indicators. Districts are ranked on a delta-ranking dashboard, which encourages healthy competition and evidence-based governance. The model’s success — rapid improvement through focused planning, convergence of schemes, and constant monitoring — has inspired similar frameworks, including the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which applies the same logic to agricultural productivity.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can targeted productivity reforms and MSP-based procurement ensure long-term self-reliance without creating regional production imbalances?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2177019