New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a massive ₹42,000 crore agricultural development initiative during a special “Krishi Programme” at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi on October 11. The event marked a significant step toward transforming India’s agriculture sector, enhancing farmer incomes, and promoting self-reliance in food production.
The programme began with the Prime Minister interacting with farmers and addressing the gathering, outlining the government’s vision for a more sustainable and technology-driven agricultural ecosystem. Two major schemes worth ₹35,440 crore were officially unveiled — the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (₹24,000 crore), aimed at boosting crop productivity, diversification, and post-harvest management in 100 districts, and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (₹11,440 crore), focused on expanding pulse cultivation, improving yields, and strengthening storage and processing networks.
Additionally, Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation for projects exceeding ₹6,000 crore in sectors such as animal husbandry, fisheries, food processing, and cold-chain development. The event also highlighted achievements including the enrollment of over 50 lakh farmers in 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), with 1,100 FPOs crossing annual turnovers of ₹1 crore.
Emphasizing innovation and sustainability, the initiative promotes natural farming, digital agricultural systems, and modern infrastructure across rural India. The massive push is expected to fortify India’s agricultural backbone, reduce import dependence, and pave the way for a more resilient, self-reliant rural economy.
