Cabinet okays agri-scheme-merger policy with Rs 24k crore annual outlay

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana for six years, covering 100 districts with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore.

The programme, announced in the Union Budget, is expected to converge 36 existing schemes and increase the adoption of crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices.

Sharing details about the decision, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister  Ashwini Vaishnaw said the scheme would augment post-harvest storage at the panchayat and block levels, improve irrigation facilities, and enhance farm productivity.

The scheme is also expected to facilitate the availability of long-term and short-term credit.

It will reportedly be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 departments, besides state schemes and local partnerships with the private sector.

The 100 districts will be identified based on three key indicators: low productivity, low cropping intensity, and low credit disbursement.

The number of districts in each state/UT will be based on the share of the net cropped area and operational holdings. However, a minimum of one district will be selected from each state, according to a government statement. 

Committees will be formed at the district, state, and national levels to effectively plan, implement, and monitor the scheme.

District Dhan Dhaanya Samitis, which will have progressive farmers as members, would be expected to finalise a District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan, the statement said. 

The plans would be aligned with the national goals of crop diversification, conservation of water and soil health, and self-sufficiency in agriculture and allied sectors, as well as the expansion of natural and organic farming.

The scheme's progress in each Dhan-Dhaanya district would be monitored on 117 performance indicators through a dashboard on a monthly basis. 

The NITI Aayog will review and guide the district plans. Besides, Central Nodal Officers appointed for each district would also review the scheme regularly, the statement said.