Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled two sweeping initiatives aimed at reshaping India’s agricultural landscape, reaffirming his government’s commitment to self-reliance, farmer welfare, and rural development. Speaking at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Pusa, Delhi, he launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’, alongside announcing and inaugurating a vast network of agriculture and allied sector projects worth over Rs 42,000 crore.
Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Minister of State Bhagirath Choudhary joined him at the event, where farmers, FPO representatives, and stakeholders from fisheries, animal husbandry, and food processing interacted directly with the Prime Minister. The occasion also paid homage to Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh on their birth anniversaries.
The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which integrates 36 sub-schemes spread across 11 ministries, targets aspirational districts with a holistic approach to agricultural growth. Its objective is to modernise infrastructure, expand credit access, and strengthen allied services. The Mission for Self-Reliance in Pulses seeks to drastically increase domestic production and meet rising demand without depending on imports.
Alongside these launches, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid foundations for 1,100 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing. These initiatives will pave the way for modern cold chains, warehouses, and processing units across rural India, helping farmers access markets more efficiently while reducing wastage.
A major part of the day’s proceedings involved recognising farmers, cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) that have led innovation, diversification, and enterprise at the grassroots. Modi felicitated individuals and collectives who are now serving as models of rural economic leadership.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and highlighted how government policies shielded farmers from international price shocks. Despite a surge in global fertiliser prices, urea remains available at Rs 266 per bag and DAP at Rs 1,350, thanks to substantial subsidies. He also pointed out that GST reductions on agricultural machinery have enabled farmers to access modern technology at lower costs, improving productivity and efficiency.
Chouhan underscored the significant jumps in Minimum Support Prices for key crops. Wheat MSP was raised by Rs 160 per quintal, gram by over Rs 200, lentil by Rs 300, mustard by Rs 250 and sunflower by Rs 600, reflecting the government’s intent to ensure income security for cultivators.
He also outlined the financial empowerment achieved through schemes such as PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, which has transferred Rs 3.90 lakh crore directly to farmers’ accounts. In the 2024–25 financial year, loans worth over Rs 10 lakh crore were disbursed via Kisan Credit Cards, alongside Rs 1.62 lakh crore extended as interest subsidies. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has provided compensation exceeding Rs 1.83 lakh crore, helping insured farmers recover from crop losses.
The rise and success of FPOs formed another prominent theme. More than 52 lakh farmers are now shareholders of such organisations, with 1,100 FPOs having crossed the Rs 1 crore mark and collectively posting turnover above Rs 15,000 crore. The government continues to support these entities through branding, market linkage and innovation grants so that smallholders can aggregate produce and earn better returns.
Chouhan said the new schemes reflect the country’s march toward ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbharta’ and called on citizens to encourage Swadeshi. He said the Prime Minister’s vision is to build an agriculture system that meets global standards while uplifting small and marginal farmers.
The programme also placed a strong emphasis on fisheries and allied activities, acknowledging their role in diversifying rural incomes. Sixteen fisheries projects worth over Rs 693 crore were announced under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund. These include foundation stones for seven new projects costing Rs 572 crore and inauguration of nine projects worth Rs 121 crore.
Among them is a Rs 170 crore trout fisheries project in Uttarakhand, expected to boost production and jobs. The smart and integrated fishing harbour in Karaikal, Puducherry, at nearly Rs 120 crore, aims to improve docking, hygiene, exports and domestic marketing.
The Rs 100 crore Integrated Aqua Park at Hirakud, Odisha, will support cage farming, hatchery operations, fish processing and training, catering to 1,700 farmers and 700 trainees. The Rs 70 crore Nutrition Hub of Sustainable Aquaculture in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, will promote eco-friendly feed manufacturing and enhance farmer profitability.
Modi said animal husbandry, fisheries, aquaculture and beekeeping hold the key to additional income for small and landless farmers. The combined outlays across agriculture and allied sectors, along with policy measures and recognition of rural enterprise, mark what the government describes as a historic step towards self-reliance and farmer-led development.
