PM Modi Launches Two Major Agri Schemes Worth ₹35,440 Crore to Boost Pulses Production, Empower Farmers
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unveiled two flagship agricultural schemes with a total outlay of ₹35,440 crore aimed at boosting pulses production and accelerating farm sector growth across 100 underperforming districts. Speaking at a special event at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, Modi urged farmers to reduce import dependence and enhance agricultural exports.
He launched the ₹24,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) and the ₹11,440-crore Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, while also inaugurating agricultural, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing projects worth ₹5,450 crore. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for projects valued at ₹815 crore.
Attacking previous Congress governments for what he termed as a “lack of vision” in agricultural development, Modi said that neglect had weakened the farm ecosystem. “There was no strategy, no coordination between departments. Agriculture was left to fend for itself,” he said.
Modi highlighted that the two newly approved schemes—set to be implemented from the upcoming rabi season until 2030-31—would transform the lives of “crores of farmers.” He underscored farmers’ central role in achieving the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047, calling on them to expand production for global markets.
“You made India self-reliant in foodgrains after Independence. Now you have to help make India a developed nation. We must reduce imports and boost exports,” he said, urging farmers to diversify beyond rice and wheat to strengthen protein security through pulses.
Under the pulses mission, the government aims to expand cultivation by 35 lakh hectares and raise production from 252.38 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31, ensuring self-sufficiency.
The PM-DDKY, modeled on the government’s Aspirational Districts Programme, will target 100 low-performing districts to improve productivity, promote crop diversification, enhance irrigation and storage infrastructure, and ensure easier access to farm credit. It integrates 36 schemes from various ministries to deliver coordinated growth.
Modi said the reforms initiated since 2014 had transformed agriculture “from seeds to marketplace,” increasing investment and efficiency. The Centre, he noted, has raised the agriculture budget sixfold in the last 11 years.
Comparing fertilizer subsidies, Modi said the NDA government provided ₹13 lakh crore in the past decade, including ₹3.75 lakh crore under the PM-Kisan scheme, while the previous UPA government spent only ₹5 lakh crore over a similar period.
He added that recent GST reductions on farm machinery have lowered costs and doubled farmers’ savings. Over the past 11 years, agricultural exports have nearly doubled, foodgrain output has risen by 90 million tonnes, and fruit and vegetable production has grown by over 64 million tonnes.
Modi also cited key achievements such as ₹2 lakh crore in insurance claims disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the creation of over 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to strengthen market linkages.
Drawing parallels with the Aspirational Districts Programme, Modi emphasized that the success of PM-DDKY will rely on active participation from farmers as well as local administrators like District Magistrates and Collectors.
During the event, he interacted with farmers engaged in pulses cultivation who have benefited from government initiatives promoting value-chain-based development in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries.
Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture) and Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying) were also present at the launch ceremony.
