New Delhi, Oct 11 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to initiate and lay the groundwork for initiatives and projects exceeding Rs 42,000 crore in the agriculture and allied sectors this Saturday.

The Prime Minister is set to launch two significant schemes within the agriculture sector, featuring a total investment of Rs 35,440 crore. This encompasses the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which allocates Rs 24,000 crore, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

“The initiative aims to boost agricultural productivity, promote crop diversification and sustainable farming practices, enhance post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation infrastructure, and facilitate both long-term and short-term credit availability in the chosen 100 districts,” the statement emphasized.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will introduce the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’, which carries an investment of Rs 11,440 crore.

This mission seeks to enhance pulse productivity, widen the cultivation area for pulses, fortify the value chain – including procurement, storage, and processing – while minimizing losses.

PM Modi will also inaugurate and dedicate projects totaling over Rs 5,450 crore across agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors, while laying the foundation for further projects estimated at around Rs 815 crore.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to engage in a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in New Delhi, where he will interact with farmers and afterwards participate in a public event, addressing the attendees.

“This event highlights the Prime Minister’s unwavering commitment to farmer welfare, agricultural self-sufficiency, and the enhancement of rural infrastructure. It will emphasize the promotion of modern agricultural techniques, support for farmers, and the celebration of key achievements in farmer-focused initiatives,” the PMO stated.

Among the projects being inaugurated are an Artificial Insemination Training Center in Bengaluru and Jammu & Kashmir; a Centre of Excellence in Amreli and Banas; the establishment of an IVF Lab in Assam under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission; and Milk Powder Plants located in Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara. Furthermore, a Fish Feed Plant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana in Tezpur, Assam will also be inaugurated, along with infrastructure for agro-processing clusters, integrated cold chain, and value addition facilities.

The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for projects such as an Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Irradiation) in Krishna, Andhra Pradesh; Trout Fisheries in Uttarakhand; an Integrated Aqua Park in Nagaland; a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour in Karaikal, Puducherry; and a cutting-edge Integrated Aquapark in Hirakud, Odisha, among others.

During this programme, the Prime Minister will connect with farmers involved in pulse cultivation who have benefited from various government initiatives designed to establish a value chain-oriented approach in Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries.