Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s launch of two transformative agricultural schemes – the Rs 24,000-crore Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Rs 11,440-crore Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses – marks a crucial step in reshaping India’s farm economy. Together worthRs35,440 crore, these initiatives are not just about boosting crop output; they are about reinventing Indian agriculture to align with the nation’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. For decades, Indian agriculture has been locked in a pattern of overdependence on wheat and rice – crops that are water-intensive and environmentally unsustainable. The Green Revolution may have made India self-sufficient in food grains, but it also created monoculture habits that now threaten soil health and groundwater sustainability. Nowhere is this more evident than in Punjab, once the pride of India’s food security, where groundwater levels are plummeting alarmingly due to excessive paddy cultivation.
In this backdrop, the Prime Minister’s call for diversification-from rice and wheat to pulses and millets-is timely and visionary. The newly launched schemes focus on shifting from traditional to smart farming practices that maximise yield, conserve natural resources, and ensure long-term sustainability. They aim to make agriculture not just a means of survival but a profitable, technology-driven enterprise that contributes to India’s export potential as well.
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses addresses a persistent national concern. Despite being the world’s largest producer and consumer of pulses, India continues to import millions of tonnes annually to meet domestic demand. The mission seeks to expand pulse acreage by 35 lakh hectares and raise production from 252.38 lakh tonnes to 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31. This goal is ambitious but achievable if supported by improved seed varieties, better irrigation, mechanisation, and access to timely credit. Beyond ensuring protein security, the mission aims to make India self-reliant – a key step toward agricultural sovereignty.
Complementing this is the PM-DDKY, modelled on the Government’s Aspirational Districts Programme. It targets 100 low-performing agricultural districts and integrates 36 different schemes from multiple ministries. The approach is systemic and outcome-orientated, focusing on enhancing productivity, promoting crop diversification, improving irrigation, strengthening storage and marketing facilities, and ensuring credit access. By addressing the bottlenecks in underperforming regions, the Government aims to unlock the hidden potential of India’s vast agrarian base.
But these schemes are not merely about funds and frameworks. They represent a shift in philosophy-from subsistence farming to smart, data-driven agriculture. With digital tools, satellite mapping, and AI-based advisories, farmers can now make informed choices about crop cycles, soil health, and pest control. Agricultural universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and extension officers have a critical role in transferring this knowledge to the grassroots. Only when farmers are technologically empowered will the vision of Beej to Bazaar reforms bear fruit. A key element of this transition must be the revival of India’s traditional millets-often dubbed “nutri-cereals”. Once the backbone of Indian diets, millets like bajra, jowar, and ragi were sidelined by the Green Revolution’s focus on rice and wheat. Yet, they are climate-resilient, require far less water, and offer superior nutritional value. The United Nations’ declaration of 2023 as the International Year of Millets has already renewed global interest. Encouraging their cultivation and consumption can address malnutrition, reduce water stress, and diversify income streams for small and marginal farmers.
To achieve these objectives, agricultural scientists, policymakers, and local departments must collaborate closely. The Rs35,440-crore outlay provides the financial muscle, but success depends on implementation – from selecting the right districts to continuous performance monitoring. Technology adoption must be paired with on-ground capacity building. Training programmes, digital literacy, and real-time data sharing should become integral components of these schemes.
If executed effectively, the combined thrust of PM-DDKY and the Pulses Mission can usher in a new era of Indian agriculture – one that is sustainable, profitable, and globally competitive. Farmers will benefit from multiple cropping cycles, better market access, and higher incomes. The nation will gain from reduced import dependence, increased exports, and improved nutritional security. However, the transition from traditional to smart farming will require behavioural change as much as policy reform. The launch of these two major schemes signals not just investment in agriculture but faith in the farmer – the real architect of a developed India.
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