Are Rohtak Farmers Thrilled with the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana?

Rohtak, July 16 (NationPress) The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to the ‘Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ for a span of six years commencing in 2025-26. Farmers in Rohtak, Haryana, welcomed this decision with enthusiasm, labeling it a significant enhancement for small and marginal farmers.

In a conversation with IANS, local farmers shared their gratitude for the scheme and the potential advantages it promises to deliver.

"I extend my thanks to Prime Minister Modi for this initiative," expressed one farmer.

"Common farmers are overjoyed. Previously, the expenses of producing paddy were exorbitant. However, with the new program and the elevated Minimum Support Price (MSP), we are set to experience considerable relief. The government has indeed taken a commendable step for the agricultural community," he added.

Another farmer resonated with this perspective, stating, "This will undoubtedly benefit us. I’m thankful to the Prime Minister for considering the needs of farmers. We have faced challenges for years, and this scheme instills hope in us."

A third farmer stressed the significance of execution: "Now that the Cabinet has approved it, I sincerely hope it is implemented swiftly. It’s a remarkable initiative, but timely execution is crucial," he remarked.

The scheme is inspired by NITI Aayog's Aspirational District Programme, a pioneering initiative that focuses solely on agriculture and related sectors.

Its objectives include improving agricultural productivity, promoting crop diversification and sustainable agricultural methods, enhancing post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, upgrading irrigation facilities, and ensuring access to long-term and short-term credit, as stated in the official announcement.

This scheme was unveiled as part of the Budget proposals for 2025-26 to develop 100 districts under the 'Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana'. Implementation will occur through the integration of 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments, along with state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.

A total of 100 districts will be selected based on three primary criteria: low productivity, low cropping intensity, and limited credit disbursement. The distribution of districts in each state/UT will depend on the proportion of Net Cropped Area and operational holdings. Nonetheless, at least one district will be chosen from each state, according to an official statement.

Committees will be established at the District, State, and National levels to ensure effective planning, execution, and monitoring of the scheme. A District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan will be developed by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti, which will also include progressive farmers as members.

The District Plans will align with national objectives regarding crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, and the expansion of natural and organic farming.

The advancement of the scheme in each Dhan-Dhaanya district will be tracked based on 117 key Performance Indicators through a monthly dashboard.