The Cabinet on Wednesday approved three flagship initiatives, Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) with an annual outlay of over Rs 24,000 crore aimed at the development of agricultural districts across the country.

The Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), introduced in the Union Budget 2025–26, aims to develop 100 agriculture-focused districts by integrating 36 existing schemes under 11 central ministries.
The selected districts have been identified based on low agricultural productivity, moderate crop density, and weak credit access. At least one district from every state will be covered, highlighted Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
With a total outlay of Rs 24,000 crore over six years, the scheme aims to benefit 1.7 crore farmers through focused interventions in areas such as crop productivity, irrigation, storage infrastructure, credit access, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices.
Officials noted that the scheme draws inspiration from the Aspirational Districts Programme, emphasising convergence and coordinated action. “The objective is to align efforts and drive long-term impact at the district level," one official said.

The key objectives of the scheme include improving agricultural productivity, encouraging crop diversification and the adoption of sustainable farming practices, and strengthening post-harvest infrastructure to reduce losses and improve value realisation. It also aims to expand irrigation networks to ensure better water availability and enhance access to both short- and long-term agricultural credit, thereby supporting farmers across the value chain.