Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has announced a series of transformative initiatives for India’s agriculture and allied sectors at a landmark event held in Pusa, Delhi. The event, which saw the participation of Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, and Rural Development, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Minister of State Shri Bhagirath Choudhary, was virtually attended by Union Ministers Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Shri Ramnath Thakur, several Chief Ministers, public representatives, and lakhs of farmers nationwide.

Key Schemes and ₹42,000 Crore Infrastructure Boost

Two major initiatives were launched to streamline agricultural growth and enhance national self-sufficiency:

New Coordinated Schemes for Agricultural Progress

The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana has been introduced as a coordinated effort involving 36 sub-schemes across 11 ministries. This comprehensive initiative is specifically designed to accelerate agricultural progress in aspirational districts across the country.

Simultaneously, a Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission has been initiated with the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production. This move aims to reduce India’s dependence on imports in the face of continuously rising domestic demand.

Massive Investment in Rural Infrastructure

The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 1,100 projects encompassing the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors. These initiatives are backed by a substantial investment exceeding ₹42,000 crore. The funds are earmarked for the creation of modern cold storage facilities, processing units, and warehouses, strengthening the overall rural infrastructure.

During the event, farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), cooperatives, and innovators were felicitated by Prime Minister Modi for their exceptional contributions to agricultural development. Their accomplishments were highlighted as exemplary models of India’s burgeoning rural enterprise ecosystem.

Government Ensures Stability and Financial Empowerment for Farmers

Subsidies and GST Relief Maintain Affordability

Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan acknowledged the government’s efforts in shielding Indian farmers from rising global fertiliser prices. Due to substantial government subsidies, Urea remains available to farmers at ₹266 per bag, and DAP is priced at ₹1,350 per bag.

Additionally, a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on agricultural machinery has been implemented, making modern farm equipment more affordable and accessible for farmers.

Significant Rise in Minimum Support Prices

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) for several major crops has been significantly increased to boost farmer income and encourage production:

• Wheat: ₹160 per quintal increase
• Gram: Over ₹200 per quintal increase
• Lentil: ₹300 per quintal increase
• Mustard: ₹250 per quintal increase
• Sunflower: ₹600 per quintal increase

Direct Financial Transfers and FPO Ecosystem Growth

Direct Benefit Schemes Showcase Financial Success

Shri Chouhan also detailed the success of key financial support schemes aimed at farmer empowerment:

• Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, a total of ₹3.90 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers’ bank accounts.
• Loans worth over ₹10 lakh crore were disbursed through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme in the Financial Year 2024–25, which included ₹1.62 lakh crore in interest subsidies.
• The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has provided compensation exceeding ₹1.83 lakh crore to insured farmers.

FPOs Achieve ‘Crorepati’ Status and High Turnover

The Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) ecosystem is exhibiting strong growth. Over 52 lakh farmers are now shareholders in various FPOs. Notably, 1,100 FPOs have achieved ‘crorepati’ status, contributing to a collective turnover that exceeds ₹15,000 crore. The Agriculture Ministry continues to provide comprehensive support to FPOs through initiatives focused on innovation, branding, and market linkage.

Commitment to Self-Reliance and Developed India

The Union Agriculture Minister reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to positioning Indian agriculture on global standards while driving the nation towards ‘Atmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) and ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). He appealed to citizens to wholeheartedly embrace Swadeshi enterprises to contribute to national growth.

The event also featured tributes to social reformers Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan and Nanaji Deshmukh on the occasion of their birth anniversaries, acknowledging their pivotal contributions to India’s social and rural development.