Govt. merges 36 schemes to float farm plan, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• PMDDKY announced in Union Budget 2025–26 with a ₹24,000 crore annual outlay for six years.
• 36 schemes across 11 ministries merged under a unified agriculture-focused program.
• Scheme to benefit 1.7 crore farmers across at least one district per State/UT.
• 100 districts will be selected based on low productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement.
• Aims to improve post-harvest storage, irrigation facilities, and access to farm credit.
• Modeled on the Aspirational District Programme and includes local planning committees.
• Monthly monitoring with alignment to national goals like natural farming, crop diversification, and soil-water conservation.

Detailed Insights:

• The PMDDKY is positioned as a convergent framework addressing productivity, sustainability, and self-sufficiency in agriculture.
• District-level plans will be created by Dhan Dhaanya Samitis, including progressive farmers, ensuring localised planning.
• Focus includes natural/organic farming, soil health, water conservation, and crop diversification.
• The consolidation of schemes aims to reduce duplication, streamline delivery, and enhance governance efficiency in rural and agricultural policy.
• Private sector partnerships and State scheme convergence are embedded for integrated development.
• Experts like Abhishek Jain (CEEW) suggest that district selection criteria should emphasize net agricultural income per hectare, not just credit flow.
• Emphasizes a shift from credit-dependent farming towards diversified income models and resilience-building.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Cropping Intensity: The ratio of gross cropped area to net sown area; indicates how often land is cultivated in a year.
• Soil Health: Refers to the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans.
• Natural Farming: A chemical-free traditional farming method that includes use of bio-inputs and is climate-resilient.
• Credit Disbursement: Refers to the distribution of institutional credit to farmers, often through banks or cooperative societies.