Surinder Sharma
New Delhi: In a major step toward agricultural reform and modernization, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the PM Dhan-Dhanya Agriculture Scheme. The scheme, which will consolidate 36 existing programs under one umbrella, comes with an annual outlay of ₹24,000 crore and is expected to benefit approximately 17 million (1.7 crore) farmers across India.
The announcement was made by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw, following the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. The scheme will be implemented over a six-year period and will initially cover 100 agricultural districts. These districts will be developed with a focus on low productivity, poor crop coverage, and limited access to agricultural credit.
The PM Dhan-Dhanya Agriculture Scheme was originally announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2025–26 as a key initiative to revitalize the agricultural sector. It aims to promote crop diversification, sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices, and modernization of post-harvest infrastructure.
Highlighting the scheme’s objectives, Minister Vaishnaw stated that it would enhance storage capacity after harvest, improve irrigation facilities, and boost overall agricultural productivity. By integrating 36 current schemes, the program is designed to create a holistic approach to agriculture development.
This scheme comes at a time when farmers across the country are awaiting the 20th installment of the PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi. The new initiative complements ongoing efforts under PM-KISAN and signals a continued focus by the government on farmer welfare and rural development.
