Nine Maharashtra Districts Included in PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana: A Boost for Farmer Income and Rural Self-Reliance

Maharashtra’s agricultural sector has received a major policy boost with the inclusion of nine districts under the Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) — a transformative national initiative designed to enhance farmers’ income, ensure food security, and strengthen the foundations of sustainable agriculture. The scheme, which aims to improve productivity in regions with limited irrigation and low yields, represents a decisive shift in India’s approach toward integrated rural development.

Announcing the development, Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dattatray Bharane said, “The Prime Minister Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana marks a decisive step towards increasing farmers’ income and making them self-reliant. After consistent efforts for farmers’ justice, this is a significant achievement.”

The initiative will be officially launched in Delhi by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with simultaneous state-level events organized across participating states. Maharashtra’s own event will be chaired by Minister Bharane at the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank Auditorium, symbolizing the state’s commitment to empowering its farmers through innovation, cooperation, and convergence.

Maharashtra’s Key Districts Join National Agricultural Mission

Under PMDDKY, 100 districts across India have been identified for targeted intervention — nine of which are from Maharashtra: Palghar, Raigad, Dhule, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Beed, Nanded, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, and Gadchiroli. These regions represent the state’s diverse agricultural ecosystem, from tribal-dominated zones to semi-arid areas struggling with irrigation and yield challenges.

The program’s inclusion of these districts underscores a data-driven approach. It recognizes areas where farm productivity remains 20–30% below the national average, often due to fragmented landholdings, climate vulnerability, and restricted access to institutional credit. By focusing on these regions, the government intends to not only raise crop yields but also create pathways for inclusive agricultural modernization.

A Six-Year Plan Backed by ₹24,000 Crore

The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana will be implemented over six years, with an annual budgetary outlay of ₹24,000 crore. This investment signals one of the most comprehensive interventions in India’s agricultural planning, integrating schemes from multiple departments to create a unified support ecosystem for farmers.

The plan focuses on four core areas — grain storage, processing, irrigation enhancement, and local employment generation. In practice, this means building modern silos and warehouses to reduce post-harvest losses, promoting micro-irrigation systems for efficient water use, and enabling local processing units that add value to farm produce.

For districts like Beed and Yavatmal, where erratic rainfall and high input costs have long challenged small farmers, the scheme promises a safety net and a springboard for sustainable growth.

Strength to Farming, Relief to Farmers

Minister Bharane emphasized that the scheme embodies the spirit of “strength to farming, relief to farmers” — a philosophy that aligns with both state and central priorities for agricultural reform. “This scheme will directly benefit farmers across the state,” he said. “It will strengthen sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and the adoption of modern technologies — boosting farmers’ confidence.”

Experts echo this optimism. By improving irrigation coverage, encouraging crop diversification, and supporting credit availability, the scheme has the potential to increase farmers’ incomes by 50–60% over five years, especially in districts dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
Such efforts also resonate with India’s broader Doubling Farmers’ Income vision, where convergence — rather than fragmented schemes — is emerging as the new governance model.

Maharashtra to Hold State-Level Event in Pune

In a significant show of collaborative governance, Maharashtra will hold its state-level event in Pune, chaired by Minister Bharane. The program will bring together policymakers, scientists, local representatives, and over 300 progressive and innovative farmers.
The event will serve as a convergence platform for 36 different schemes across 11 departments, both central and state. Activities will be executed through Gram Panchayats, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Market Committees, Kisan Samriddhi Kendras, and Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) — ensuring that resources and initiatives reach farmers directly at the grassroots.

This decentralized approach reflects a shift from policy design to policy execution at the local level, ensuring accountability, faster adoption, and measurable impact.

Integrating Technology and Traditional Knowledge
 

One of the most powerful aspects of PMDDKY lies in its dual focus — leveraging modern technology while recognizing the value of traditional agricultural wisdom. The scheme promotes the use of digital platforms for soil testing, crop monitoring, and credit disbursement, while also encouraging natural and organic farming practices that improve long-term soil health.

The government’s vision is to make each district a self-reliant agricultural cluster, capable of producing, processing, and marketing its own produce sustainably. The integration of digital tools like drone-based crop mapping, weather forecasting, and mobile-based extension services will bring precision and predictability to farming — two factors long missing from India’s agricultural landscape.

National Convergence for a Green Revolution 2.0

The launch of the PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana coincides with two complementary national missions — Natural Farming and the Pulses Campaign — both designed to promote sustainable food systems. The nationwide launch will be telecast live across district headquarters, taluka offices, KVKs, and Gram Panchayats, reflecting the government’s push for participatory governance.

Through this convergence, over 36 agricultural schemes will work in tandem to improve crop productivity, credit access, post-harvest management, and market linkages. Experts view this as a critical step toward a “Green Revolution 2.0” — one that is less resource-intensive, more inclusive, and better aligned with India’s climate goals.

A Collective Step Towards Self-Reliant Agriculture

As Maharashtra prepares to participate in this landmark initiative, the focus extends beyond short-term outputs. The inclusion of nine districts under PMDDKY represents a deeper intent — to empower farmers with tools, technology, and trust.
By aligning government efforts across departments and integrating central and state initiatives, the scheme demonstrates how federal collaboration can translate policy into prosperity.

In the long run, initiatives like PMDDKY may redefine rural Maharashtra’s economic landscape — where increased productivity, reduced risk, and sustainable farming together form the foundation of Atmanirbhar Krishi (Self-Reliant Agriculture).

Minister Bharane’s closing remarks capture this sentiment: “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for including nine of our districts in this ambitious, farmer-friendly mission. This initiative truly reinforces the spirit of rural empowerment and agricultural resilience that Maharashtra stands for.”