PM Modi bats for agri self-reliance, unveils two Rs 35,440-crore schemes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major agricultural schemes with a combined outlay of Rs 35,440 crore to boost production of pulses and improve the farm sector growth in 100 low-performing districts of the country.

Modi launched the schemes — Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — during a special event at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute here. He said the schemes were designed to transform the lives of crores of farmers, reduce dependence on imports and increase exports.

The Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore, aims to boost agricultural productivity, and encourage crop diversification and sustainable practices. It also seeks to enhance post-harvest storage at panchayat and block levels; improve irrigation facilities and ensure availability of long-term and short-term credit in 100 selected districts. The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses has an allocation of Rs 11,440 crore and is dedicated to achieving self-reliance in production of pulses. The scheme aims to increase productivity levels and expand cultivation area. It also focuses on strengthening the entire value chain, covering essential components such as procurement, efficient storage and processing, all while working to minimise post-harvest losses.

The two schemes, already approved by the Union Cabinet, will be implemented from the upcoming rabi (winter) season till 2030-31. The PM also inaugurated projects valued at over Rs 5,450 crore in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries and food processing sectors, and laid foundation stone for additional projects worth around Rs 815 crore.

During his 30-minute address, Modi attacked the Congress governments for not having any vision and strategy for the growth of the agriculture and allied sectors, which weakened the farm ecosystem.

He underscored that farmers had a critical role to play in realising the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. “You (farmers) have made India self-reliant in foodgrain post-Independence. Now, you have a crucial role in making India a developed nation (Viksit Bharat). On one hand, we have to become self-reliant (in food), while on the other hand we should produce for the global market,” he said, urging farmers to focus on crops that have global demand.

He urged farmers to diversify beyond wheat and rice, focusing on pulses to ensure protein security. Despite being the world’s largest pulses producer and consumer, India still depended on imports, he pointed out.

Under the pulses mission, Modi said the aim is to increase pulses acreage by 35 lakh hectares by 2030. The mission targets raising pulses output from the current 252.38 lakh tonne to 350 lakh tonne by 2030-31.

The PM-DDKY, modelled on the government’s Aspirational Districts Programme, will target 100 low-performing agricultural districts and integrate 36 schemes from different ministries, he said.