Executive Summary

The Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana was introduced by the Finance Minister of India, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Ji, on 1st February, 2025. As a part of the Union budget of FY 2025-26, the scheme was focused on the development of the agriculture sector. The scheme will include various agricultural programs to develop 100 low-performing district areas. The scheme targets around 1.7 crore small and marginal farmers to improve their conditions. It focuses on the development of agricultural districts through strategic implementation strategy. The scheme has major objectives of enhancing crop diversification, improving agricultural infrastructure, encouraging sustainable practices, and expanding credit access. Certain measures are also suggested to increase the impact of the scheme, including Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, public-private partnership, widened crop infrastructure, skill development centers, digital platforms for market linkage, adequate fund allocation and subsidised loans.

Introduction

Indian agriculture consists mainly of small or marginal landholders. These farmers represent 86% of the farmer population but they maintain possession of only 47% of the agricultural land area.  The owners of small and marginal farms encounter numerous operational difficulties. Farmer productivity remains low because small landholders face shortfalls of agricultural products, credit hardships along with weak rural infrastructure networks. Through the Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana presented in the Union Budget for FY 2025-26, the Government of India addressed the prevailing agricultural issues. Benefits from this extensive program will be provided to the 1.7 crore farmer groups operating in 100 low-productivity districts. A multifaceted approach under the scheme includes practices for sustainable agriculture, irrigation improvements, strengthened credit access for farmers and active promotion of crop variety expansion. This scheme contains two core objectives that seek to engender economic growth in rural areas and improve farmers economic conditions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched this important project for agricultural sector revitalization in India. The multiple components of the scheme require some recommendations to maximize its effectiveness. The Government is recommended to implement GIS mapping, public-private partnership initiatives, widened infrastructures for crops, skill development centers and digital market linking platforms. Furthermore, the Government is advised to provide adequate funding for irrigation projects and subsidised loans to women for increasing the impact of the scheme.

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