Shivraj Chouhan Honours Top Districts for Agricultural Excellence
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana conference highlights district-led innovation, natural farming, water conservation and efforts to boost farmers’ incomes.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 12th Oct: Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday felicitated top-performing districts under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), calling for coordinated action across government departments to improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ incomes.
Addressing the scheme’s national conference at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium on the Pusa campus in New Delhi, Chouhan said development policies must reflect ground realities, with district-level planning and interdepartmental coordination playing a central role in agricultural growth.
The conference brought together district collectors, scientists and senior policymakers from more than 50 districts. Chouhan urged officials to review agricultural action plans every month and strengthen implementation wherever progress remained slow.
District-Led Planning and Convergence
Emphasising the importance of localised planning, Chouhan said district agricultural plans under PMDDKY had been prepared by collectors based on local conditions. He called for coordinated efforts involving the Ministries of Jal Shakti, Food Processing Industries and Rural Development, along with institutions working in animal husbandry, dairy, fisheries, cooperation and skill development.
He also stressed the need to connect agricultural research more directly with farmers, drawing on the work of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Krishi Vigyan Kendras, agricultural universities and other extension institutions.
Focus on Pulses, Credit and Low-Productivity Areas
Chouhan said the scheme prioritises 100 districts facing challenges such as low agricultural productivity, limited cropping intensity and inadequate institutional credit.
He called for pulses and oilseeds cultivation in rice-fallow areas through a mission-mode approach to improve land utilisation and agricultural output. He also urged officials to expand Kisan Credit Card coverage and improve access to institutional credit, particularly in eastern India and underdeveloped districts.
The minister said timely access to credit would help farmers adopt improved seeds, fertilisers and modern agricultural technologies.
Districts Showcase Agricultural Innovations
The conference highlighted local initiatives aimed at improving farm productivity, conserving resources and raising rural incomes.
– Gadchiroli, Maharashtra: Water conservation and drought management helped transform drought-affected areas and improve agricultural production.
– Alluri Sitharama Raju, Andhra Pradesh: Promotion of high-value, water-efficient horticultural crops helped increase farmers’ incomes.
– Banka, Bihar: The Lilawaran Natural Farming Land Revival Model showcased efforts to reduce dependence on chemical fertilisers.
– Other districts: Initiatives from Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir, Korba in Chhattisgarh and Fazilka in Punjab also received appreciation.
Chouhan encouraged district collectors to pursue ambitious goals with determination, expressing confidence that more districts would demonstrate measurable progress before the next review meeting.
The conference was attended by Union Ministers of State for Agriculture Ram Nath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar, senior officials from various ministries, state representatives and district-level administrators.
