IPR Sikkim

Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi Virtually Launches ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’

Gangtok, October 11 (IPR):The Agriculture Department, Government of Sikkim, organised a day-long programme for senior officials today at the Conference Hall of the Farmers’ Hostel – SAMETI, Gangtok. During the event, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi virtually launched the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ at the national level. The programme also included the inauguration and foundation stone laying of over 1,100 projects under the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, as well as projects related to Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Food Processing sectors. Agricultural initiatives worth over ₹42,000 crore were presented to farmers.

The national-level launch took place at the National Agriculture Science Complex, PUSA, New Delhi, in the presence of Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi. The state-level event was held at Samman Bhawan, Gangtok, and was graced by Chief Minister Mr Prem Singh Tamang.

The ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ aims to enhance agricultural productivity, credit access, irrigation facilities, crop diversification, and post-harvest management across 100 districts. The six-year ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ seeks to improve pulse productivity, expand the area under pulse cultivation, strengthen the value chain including procurement, storage, and processing, and minimise losses.

During the national event, the Prime Minister highlighted that after June 2024, 1,054 new agricultural infrastructure projects have been completed at a total cost of ₹3,650 crore. These projects form part of the broader ₹1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) launched to strengthen farming infrastructure across India. Key developments include 17 Animal Husbandry projects worth ₹1,166 crore, 16 Fisheries projects worth ₹693 crore under PMMSY and FIDF, and 17 Food Processing projects worth ₹808 crore under PMKSY and PLISFPI.

Additional milestones presented include:

* Membership of 50 lakh farmers in 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), with 1,100 FPOs reporting annual turnovers exceeding ₹1 crore in FY 2024–25

* Certification of over 50,000 farmers under the National Mission for Natural Farming (NMNF)

* Certification of 38,000 Multi-Purpose AI Technicians in Rural India (MAITRI)

* Key achievements under the ‘Sahakar Se Samriddhi’ initiative led by the Ministry of Cooperation

* Sanctioning of over 10,000 Multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS) for computerisation

*Operationalisation of 10,000 new e-PACS, Dairy and Fishery Cooperative Societies

* Establishment of 10,000 new PACS as Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs)

During the programme at SAMETI, Principal Director, Agriculture Department, Mr Rajendra Prasad Thapa, in his address, emphasised the need for the state to move towards agricultural self-reliance through the promotion of FPOs and effective utilisation of existing agricultural and horticultural schemes. He stressed the importance of a ‘bottom-up’ planning approach, grounded in on-the-field realities. He also shared that Gyalshing district has been selected under the ‘Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’.

The event at SAMETI was attended by Principal Directors, Additional Directors, Joint Directors, Deputy Directors, ADOs, officials from the Agriculture and Horticulture Departments, line departments, FPO members, and SHG members.

The welcome address was delivered by Director SAMETI, Ms Rachna Gurung, and the vote of thanks was offered by Inspector SAMETI, Ms Sambedhna Pradhan.

Report from DIO-GANGTOK