Two Mega Agriculture Missions to Boost Farmer Prosperity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled two ambitious schemes worth ₹35,440 crore to strengthen India agriculture sector and reduce import dependency — a major push towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India).
The launch, held on the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, also saw the inauguration of agricultural projects worth over ₹5,450 crore, along with the foundation stone-laying for projects worth another ₹815 crore.
Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: A Step Toward Self-Reliance
At the centre of these initiatives is the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’, backed by a budget of ₹11,440 crore. The mission objective is to ramp up domestic pulses production from 252.38 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by the 2030-31 crop year.
The scheme aims to drastically reduce India dependency on imported pulses by providing farmers with better access to seeds, irrigation facilities, and post-harvest infrastructure. With pulses being a key part of the Indian diet, the mission is expected to not only stabilize prices but also enhance farmer incomes.
Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana to Transform 100 Districts
The second major initiative — the ₹24,000-crore ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ — will focus on improving productivity in 100 low-performing agri-districts across India.
Under this scheme, the government will promote crop diversification, improve irrigation, develop storage capacity, and ensure easier credit access for farmers. The programme is set to roll out from the upcoming rabi (winter) season and continue till 2030-31.
Major Infrastructure Boost in Animal Husbandry and Fisheries
As part of the event, PM Modi also inaugurated multiple projects across agriculture and allied sectors:
- Artificial insemination training centres in Bengaluru and Jammu & Kashmir
- Centres of excellence in Amreli and Banas
- An IVF lab in Assam under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission
- Milk powder plants in Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara
- A fish feed plant in Tezpur under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
These projects are designed to boost productivity, animal breeding, and fisheries management — key pillars of rural income generation.
Milestones in Farmer Empowerment and Cooperative Growth
The event also highlighted the government achievements in farmer empowerment:
- Over 50 lakh farmers have joined 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- 1,100 FPOs achieved annual turnovers exceeding ₹1 crore in FY 2024-25
- 50,000 farmers certified under the National Mission for Natural Farming
- 38,000 MAITRIs (Multi-purpose AI Technicians in Rural India) trained
- Over 10,000 e-PACS (computerised Primary Agriculture Credit Societies) operational
PM Modi distributed certificates to farmers, MAITRI technicians, and PACS members who have transitioned into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs).
Leaders Praise India Agricultural Transformation
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, and Minister of State Bhagirath Choudhary attended the event. They lauded the government commitment to modernizing India agriculture, strengthening cooperatives, and promoting sustainable farming.
PM Modi also interacted with farmers engaged in pulses cultivation, emphasizing the importance of innovation and technology in making Indian agriculture globally competitive.
