Jaipur, Oct 11 (NationPress) On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission during a significant agricultural event hosted at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in Delhi. The Prime Minister introduced two pivotal initiatives — the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana with a budget of Rs 24,000 crore and the Pulses Self-Reliance Mission with a funding of Rs 11,440 crore.

During this event, he also inaugurated and laid the groundwork for numerous projects within the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing domains. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in the event via video conferencing, absorbing the Prime Minister's speech. While attending a state-level meeting at the State Agricultural Management Institute in Durgapura, the Chief Minister noted that Prime Minister Modi has initiated a transformative phase in the nation's agricultural framework through visionary programs like the Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana and the Pulses Mission.

“These programs will not only enhance production but also foster self-reliance, technological advancement, and sustainability in farming practices,” he stated. With these initiatives, farmers will transition from traditional farming to embarking on a prosperous journey through modern technology, scientific techniques, and improved market connections.

The Chief Minister highlighted that empowering farmers is crucial for making India self-sufficient and thriving. CM Sharma mentioned that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership, tangible measures have been implemented to double farmers' income.

Financial assistance is being directly transferred to millions of farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, ensuring transparency through a robust digital infrastructure.

He also noted that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana safeguards farmers against losses from natural disasters, while initiatives like Soil Health Cards, Neem-coated Urea, and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana have redirected the course of Indian agriculture.

The Chief Minister mentioned that 100 agricultural districts nationwide have been selected under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, based on criteria such as low productivity, moderate cropping intensity, and limited access to credit.

Among these, eight districts in Rajasthan — Barmer, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Pali, Jalore, and Churu — have been incorporated into the initiative.

The objective of this initiative is to boost productivity, encourage crop diversification, enhance irrigation facilities, improve storage capabilities, and facilitate easy credit for farmers.

To achieve these goals, 11 departments, including Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy, Fisheries, Cooperatives, Food Processing, Rural Development, and Water Resources, have been unified under one framework. Sharma emphasized that the primary aim of the scheme is to broaden irrigation coverage and realize the Prime Minister's vision of “Har Khet Ko Pani” (Water for Every Farm).

Small and marginal farmers will gain access to micro-irrigation technologies such as drip and sprinkler systems, while traditional reservoirs will be revitalized. To date, micro-irrigation systems have been established on approximately 2.3 million hectares in Rajasthan, with plans to expand them across all irrigated regions.

The Chief Minister stated that 35,368 farm ponds have been created for rainwater harvesting, with a grant of around Rs 307 crore.

Furthermore, 7,903 wells and 98,753 pipeline units have been constructed in various districts at an expense of Rs 400 crore. Under the Ram Jal Setu Link Project, progress is swift on initiatives such as Parvati, Kali Sindh, and the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP), which will guarantee sufficient water for agricultural endeavors.

Sharma stressed that productivity can only rise when farmers have access to quality seeds, suitable technology, and scientific guidance. Under this scheme, soil testing will be carried out in every district, and Soil Health Cards will be distributed to assist farmers. The Chief Minister revealed that 1.4 million Soil Health Cards have already been issued in Rajasthan.

Warehouses, cold storage facilities, silos, and packaging centers will be constructed at the Panchayat and Block levels to bolster storage and marketing.

He added that the state government has allocated Rs 546 crore in subsidies to over 97,000 farmers for acquiring agricultural equipment. Through the Micro Food Processing Scheme, farmers are being empowered to process their produce locally and sell it directly in the market.

The Chief Minister mentioned that through the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, long-term loans and financial backing are being offered for rural infrastructure enhancement.

To date, Rs 5,965 crore has been disbursed as compensation to insured farmers under various crop insurance initiatives, aiding them in recovering from agricultural setbacks.