Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Emphasizes Self-Reliance Through New Farming Schemes

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has underscored that the newly introduced PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission are major steps toward achieving India’s goal of becoming Aatmanirbhar (self-reliant) in the agricultural sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate these two ambitious initiatives this Saturday at Pusa Campus, New Delhi.

In a conversation with Doordarshan (DD), Minister Chouhan explained that the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana focuses on identifying 100 low-yield districts across the country. The government will implement region-specific strategies to improve productivity in these areas. He added that farmers in these regions will see significant gains through better irrigation facilities, enhanced access to credit, and improved agricultural infrastructure. By bringing underperforming districts closer to the national productivity average, overall food production will grow, directly boosting farmers’ income levels.

Chouhan also pointed out that while India is currently the largest producer and consumer of pulses, it still relies heavily on imports. To address this, the government has rolled out the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission, which aims to expand pulse cultivation, raise yield levels, and reduce import dependency.

These initiatives reflect the government’s broader vision of strengthening India’s agricultural backbone and empowering farmers to achieve true self-sufficiency in food production.