At a landmark event held at Pusa, Delhi, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled a series of transformative initiatives for India’s agriculture and allied sectors. Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Minister of State Shri Bhagirath Choudhary were also present on the occasion with the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Modi interacted directly with groups of farmers engaged in pulses cultivation, the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, and fisheries, discussing their challenges and innovations. The occasion also marked tributes to eminent social reformers such as Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh on their birth anniversaries.

The launch of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’ marks a major milestone in India’s agricultural journey. The ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ is a coordinated initiative involving 36 sub-schemes across 11 ministries, designed to accelerate agricultural progress in aspirational districts. The ‘Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission’ aims to make India self-sufficient in pulses production, reducing dependence on imports in light of rising domestic demand.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation for 1,100 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors. Together, these initiatives represent a historic investment exceeding ₹42,000 crore, paving the way for the creation of modern cold storage facilities, processing units, and warehouses across rural India.

Recognition of farmers and FPOs

The Prime Minister felicitated farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, and individuals demonstrating exceptional innovation and contribution to agricultural development. Their achievements were recognised as exemplary models of India’s growing rural enterprise ecosystem.

Fertiliser subsidies and GST relief

Expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister, Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that under PM Modi’s leadership, the government ensured that the surge in global fertiliser prices did not affect Indian farmers. “A bag of urea continues to be available at just ₹266, and DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate) at ₹1,350, due to massive government subsidies,” he said. The Union Minister also noted that the reduction in GST on agricultural machinery has made modern equipment more affordable for farmers nationwide.

Historic increase in MSP

Shri Chouhan highlighted that the Central government has significantly increased the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for major crops: by ₹160 per quintal for wheat, ₹200+ for gram, ₹300 for lentil, ₹250 for mustard, and ₹600 for sunflower.

Financial empowerment of farmers

The Union Agriculture Minister stated that under the ‘PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi’, ₹3.90 lakh crore have been directly transferred into farmers’ bank accounts. Through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme, loans worth over ₹10 lakh crore were disbursed in FY 2024–25, alongside ₹1.62 lakh crore in interest subsidies. The ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ provided compensation exceeding ₹1.83 lakh crore to insured farmers.

FPO growth and innovation

Highlighting the success of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Shri Chouhan said that over 52 lakh farmers are now shareholders in FPOs, with 1,100 FPOs achieving ‘crorepati’ status and collectively recording a turnover exceeding ₹15,000 crore. The Agriculture Ministry continues to extend innovation, branding, and market linkage support to these organisations.

Commitment to self-reliance and ‘Viksit Bharat’

The Union Minister reiterated that the government is working to position Indian agriculture on global standards while driving the nation towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) and ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). He appealed to citizens to embrace Swadeshi and contribute to the nation’s growth.

Praising the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, Shri Chouhan said, “Under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, we are committed to fulfilling the dream of a developed, self-reliant India, built on the foundation of farmers’ prosperity, indigenous enterprise, and innovation.”

****

RC/AR/MK