Imphal, Oct 11 (NationPress) The hilly region of Tamenglong district in Manipur has been selected as one of the 100 districts nationwide for the implementation of the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). This central initiative aims to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure a better standard of living for farmers.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled two significant schemes in the agricultural sector, totaling an investment of Rs 35,440 crore. Among them is the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, which has a budget of Rs 24,000 crore, alongside the Dalhan Atmanirbharta Mission (Pulse Self-Reliance Mission), which has an allocation of Rs 11,440 crore.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore in areas such as agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing, while laying the groundwork for additional initiatives valued at around Rs 815 crore.

After virtually attending the Prime Minister’s address and the launch of these ambitious schemes, Vivek Kumar Dewangan, the additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) of Manipur, announced in Imphal that Tamenglong district has been included in the PMDDKY.

“Tamenglong possesses significant potential but is hindered by issues like low crop yield and water scarcity. The PMDDKY will work to bridge these gaps and ensure the state makes a meaningful contribution to national food security,” he stated. Dewangan also urged local producers to pursue Agmark certification to elevate product credibility and market access. The Agriculture Department plans to share Tamenglong’s action plan as a model for best practices in other districts.

Highlighting Manipur’s agricultural capabilities, Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel emphasized the need to elevate Tamenglong to a position among the top 10 districts in national rankings. He called upon various departments to collaborate effectively under the Agriculture Department to transform Tamenglong into one of the leading agricultural districts in the country.

The Chief Secretary noted that PMDDKY aims to serve as a comprehensive model for integrated development across India’s 100 least-developed agricultural districts. Rather than establishing new funding sources, the scheme will focus on the convergence of existing resources to yield tangible outcomes. The NITI Aayog will regularly assess the selected districts based on performance metrics, according to Goel.

Inspired by the Aspirational District Programme of NITI Aayog, PMDDKY strives to enhance agricultural productivity through the convergence of 36 existing schemes from 11 different ministries. Key focus areas include crop diversification, irrigation enhancement, access to credit, and sustainable farming practices. Efforts are underway to map district productivity to exceed the national average in the coming years.

The Department of Agriculture announced intentions to distribute 1,400 quintals of mustard, pea, and lentil seeds under the National Mission on Edible Oils by the end of October, in addition to 40,000 bags of urea during the initial phase of the Rabi season.

Plans are also being developed to improve post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, aiming to enhance irrigation facilities where feasible, promote horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries, and strengthen collaboration with NABARD and financial institutions for credit support.