Union Agriculture Minister calls for coordinated action, higher farm credit and expansion of pulses cultivation to improve farmers’ incomes
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan felicitated top-performing districts at the national conference of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), urging officials to strengthen district-level planning and improve coordination among government departments to accelerate agricultural development.
Addressing district collectors, scientists and senior policymakers representing more than 50 districts at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium on the Pusa campus in New Delhi, Chouhan said development policies must reflect local conditions and translate into measurable improvements on the ground.
He called for regular monthly reviews of district agricultural action plans and asked officials to intensify coordinated efforts wherever implementation was progressing slowly. He also urged the participating districts to work towards the vision of a developed and prosperous India.
Chouhan stressed that improving farmers’ incomes requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors, including water management, food processing, cooperation, animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and skill development.
He highlighted the role of the Ministry of Jal Shakti in water conservation and the Ministry of Food Processing Industries in promoting processing and value addition. Strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and collective farming initiatives was also identified as an important step towards improving agricultural outcomes.
The minister emphasised that agricultural research must reach farmers directly. Research undertaken by nearly 16,000 scientists associated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), along with the work of Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the Agricultural Technology Management Agency and agricultural universities, should be translated into practical solutions for farmers.
The PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana prioritises 100 districts facing challenges such as low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and inadequate institutional credit.
Chouhan called for mission-mode efforts to promote pulses and oilseeds in rice fallow areas, where farmland remains uncultivated after paddy harvesting. Expanding cultivation in these areas could improve land utilisation and increase agricultural output.
He also stressed the need to widen coverage of the Kisan Credit Card scheme and improve the flow of institutional credit, particularly in eastern India and underdeveloped districts. Timely access to finance, he said, would help farmers adopt improved technologies and use better seeds and fertilisers.
The conference recognised districts that had demonstrated promising approaches to improving agricultural productivity, resilience and farm incomes.
Gadchiroli in Maharashtra was recognised for water conservation and drought management initiatives that helped improve agricultural conditions in drought-affected areas.
Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh showcased its promotion of high-value horticultural crops suited to low-rainfall conditions, with the aim of increasing farmers’ earnings while conserving water.
Banka district in Bihar presented its Lilawaran Natural Farming Land Revival Model, which seeks to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers and encourage natural farming practices.
Initiatives undertaken by Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, Korba in Chhattisgarh and Fazilka in Punjab were also appreciated at the conference.
Encouraging district collectors to work with determination, Chouhan said no development target was beyond reach when officials acted with commitment and coordinated their efforts.
He reiterated the importance of accelerating agricultural and rural development in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He also expressed confidence that more districts would earn recognition for their work at the next review meeting.
The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, and Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar.
Senior officials from the agriculture, rural development, water resources, food processing and animal husbandry departments, along with state representatives and district collectors, participated in the discussions.
