Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Union Government, in partnership with states, will be undertaking a program to enhance agricultural productivity at the district level. The PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana aims to create ample opportunity for rural areas so migration is "an option, not necessity," Sitharaman said in her budget speech on Feb. 1.
"Through the convergence of existing schemes, the program will cover 100 districts with low productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average credit parameters," Sitharaman said.
The scheme will benefit 1.5 crore farmers, she added.
PM Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana
Scheme to cover 100 districts with low yields.
Augment post harvest storage at panchayat, block level.
Bolster irrigation.
Improve availability of short- and long-term credit.
Earlier, the Economic Survey of 2025 had suggested that a substantial private sector investment will be vital to aid small-scale farmers, as India's consumption patterns shift away from food grains.
According to the survey tabled on Jan. 31, the increasing consumption of non-food grains, particularly horticultural products, livestock, and fisheries, will be significant.
"Given the perishable nature of these high-value commodities, effective post-harvest management and robust marketing infrastructure are essential," the report read. This will need to be aided by a private sector boost for small farmers, the report had added.
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