Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan today addressed an important press conference in New Delhi, elaborating on the ambitious schemes to be launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on October 11, 2025. The Union Minister stated that as India enters the Rabi sowing season, the Prime Minister will launch historic initiatives dedicated to the prosperity and welfare of farmers.

Shri Chouhan said that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s agriculture sector is achieving remarkable milestones and is on track to become the world’s food basket. The Union Minister said that the country’s development journey has reached new heights, and now India’s progress will be measured not against previous governments but against global standards.

The Union Minister said that ensuring food security, enhancing farmers’ incomes, and promoting nutritious grains remain the key priorities of the Central government. Since 2014, food grain production in India has increased by 40%, with record yields in wheat, rice, maize, groundnut, and soybean. “Today, India is completely self-reliant in wheat and rice, and we have exported over 4 crore tonnes of agricultural produce. However, in the case of pulses, we still have ground to cover,” he noted.

Highlighting the need for self-reliance in pulses, Shri Chouhan said that though India is both the largest producer and consumer of pulses, it continues to be the biggest importer. Hence, the government has launched the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission to boost production, productivity, and cultivated area. The aim is to expand the total pulse cultivation area from 27.5 million hectares to 31 million hectares by 2030-31, and to raise production from 24.2 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes. Productivity is targeted to increase from 880 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare.

The Union Minister explained that a robust research and development strategy has been prepared to achieve these goals. Focus will be on developing high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties and ensuring their timely delivery to farmers. High-quality seeds will be distributed through “mini kits,” with 1.26 crore quintals of certified seeds and 88 lakh free seed kits to be provided to farmers.

Shri Chouhan further announced that 1,000 processing units will be established in pulse-growing regions to ensure better prices for farmers and promote local value addition. Each unit will receive a government subsidy of ₹25 lakh. The entire agriculture machinery — in partnership with state governments — will function under the vision of ‘One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team’.

Speaking about the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana, Shri Chouhan said that agricultural productivity varies across states and even among districts within the same state. To address this disparity, the government will identify 100 low-productivity districts and implement targeted measures to enhance productivity. The efforts will focus on improving irrigation coverage, strengthening storage facilities, expanding credit access, and promoting crop diversification.

He said the initiative is inspired by the Aspirational Districts Model and will be monitored through a dashboard by NITI Aayog. “If the productivity of low-performing districts is raised even to the national average, overall national production will rise, farmers’ incomes will increase, and the nation’s food needs will be secured,” he stated.

Shri Chouhan expressed happiness that the launch will coincide with the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan on October 11. On the occasion, the Prime Minister will also highlight major national achievements in agriculture and rural development.

The press conference was attended by Agriculture Secretary Shri Devesh Chaturvedi and ICAR Director General and DARE Secretary Dr. Mangi Lal Jat.

Background:

A new chapter is set to be written in India’s agricultural history, as on October 11, 2025, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will launch two major initiatives — the ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission — at the National Agricultural Science Complex, Pusa, New Delhi, with the objective of enhancing farmers’ income and strengthening the agricultural sector.

On this occasion, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for over 1,100 projects related to Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Food Processing sectors. Together, these projects amount to more than ₹42,000 crore, and are expected to usher in a new era of prosperity and well-being for millions of farmers across the country.

During the event, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will honour farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperative societies, and innovators for their outstanding contributions to the agricultural sector. The Prime Minister will also highlight several key national achievements in agriculture and rural development, including:

1. Over 50 lakh farmers associated with 10,000 FPOs, including 1,100 ‘Crorepati FPOs’ with an annual turnover exceeding ₹1 crore.
2. More than 1 lakh farmers certified for organic farming under the National Mission on Natural Farming.
3. Computerisation of 10,000 new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) into e-PACS, transforming them into Common Service Centres (CSCs), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs), and fertiliser retail outlets.
4. Establishment of new multi-purpose PACS for dairy and fisheries cooperatives in 10,000 locations.
5. Certification of 4,275 rural Multi-purpose AI Technicians (MAITRIs) across India.
 

Under the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, 100 low-productivity districts across the country will undergo comprehensive agricultural development, aimed at significantly increasing farmers’ income. The scheme seeks to ensure irrigation facilities for every farm, promote crop diversification, and provide easy access to credit and storage infrastructure. Through the convergence of multiple government schemes, the programme will ensure direct benefits to farmers and give a strong boost to the rural economy.

Meanwhile, the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission will focus on promoting the production of major pulses such as tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), and masoor (lentil). Under this mission, central agencies will procure 100% of registered farmers’ produce at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), ensuring fair returns to growers. The mission will also work toward expanding cultivation areas and improving productivity, marking a crucial step towards self-reliance in pulse production.

Together, these initiatives will not only strengthen India’s food security in the coming years but also lead the nation toward self-sufficiency in pulses production, reinforcing the government’s commitment to empowering farmers and building a resilient agricultural economy.

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RC/AR/MK