PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Why in News ?

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare recently conducted the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) – FPO Sangam, which saw participation from 72 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) representing 15 states. The event aimed to strengthen market linkages by connecting FPOs with buyers, processors, exporters, warehouses, e-commerce chains, and retail networks.

Background & Context

India’s agriculture sector faces structural challenges such as:

• Low productivity in many districts
• Heavy concentration in water-intensive crops
• Supply chain fragmentation between farms and markets
• Low levels of post-harvest value addition
• Limited access to institutional credit
• Weak aggregation systems for small and marginal farmers

Recognising these gaps, the Government launched the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (2025–26 to 2030–31) as a comprehensive, converged agricultural development programme, integrating efforts across multiple ministries. The FPO Sangam platform is an important component of the scheme, aimed at improving market access, price realisation, and long-term farmer–buyer partnerships.

What is PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana ?

Overview

The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) is a nationwide agricultural mission to enhance productivity, strengthen value chains, promote diversification, support women & youth in farming, and achieve long-term food self-sufficiency.

Duration

2025–26 to 2030–31 (6-Year Mission)

Convergence Approach

The scheme brings together:

• 36 existing schemes
• 11 ministries/departments
• One unified funding and monitoring architecture

This avoids duplication, reduces administrative fragmentation, and ensures better resource utilization.

Fund Allocation Structure

PM-DDKY funds are divided into:

Key Objectives of the Scheme

• Boost crop productivity across lagging districts
• Promote crop diversification away from water-guzzling crops
• Strengthen post-harvest value addition (storage, grading, processing)
• Achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrains, pulses, and oilseeds
• Support women-led farming groups and agri-startups
• Improve credit access, especially for small and marginal farmers
• Build resilient supply chains for climate-related disruptions

District Selection Criteria

Districts are chosen using three major indicators:

1. Low Productivity

• Yield lower than national averages across major crops.
• Focus on underperforming agro-climatic zones.

2. Moderate Cropping Intensity

• Districts with less than 1.55 crop cycles per year, indicating scope for increasing crop intensity.

3. Low Credit Access

• Institutional credit coverage below 30%, highlighting dependence on informal credit.

This ensures that support is directed to districts with the highest development potential.

Implementation Architecture

1. District DDKY Samiti

• Established in each selected district
• Chaired by District Collector/DM
• Responsible for:
  • Preparing the District Agriculture Development Plan (DADP)
  • Monitoring implementation
  • Ensuring convergence with other schemes

2. Central Monitoring

• 100 Central Nodal Officers, mostly Joint Secretaries
• Provide technical guidance, review progress, and address bottlenecks.

3. State Agriculture Departments

• Facilitate coordination between districts, state agencies, and central ministries.

Role of FPO Sangam under PM-DDKY

The FPO Sangam initiative aims to:

• Link FPOs with organized markets
• Facilitate contract farming partnerships
• Enable bulk sales for better price realization
• Promote export-ready clusters
• Expand access to:
  • Quality inputs
  • Digital platforms
  • Post-harvest infrastructure
  • Livelihood diversification avenues

FPOs help small farmers overcome low bargaining power and achieve economies of scale.

Expected Outcomes of PM-DDKY

• Enhanced productivity across 300+ districts
• Improved farm incomes through market-driven interventions
• Better credit penetration for small farmers
• Reduction in post-harvest losses
• Development of modern agri-infrastructure
• Strengthening of pulses and oilseeds self-sufficiency
• Boost to rural employment, especially for women and youth
• Transformation of India’s agriculture into a more resilient and sustainable sector