Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Holds Press Conference in New Delhi
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, held a significant press conference in New Delhi today, outlining key initiatives set to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 11, 2025. As the Rabi sowing season approaches, these initiatives aim to enhance the welfare and prosperity of farmers across India. The Union Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to food security and the agricultural sector’s growth, highlighting the impressive milestones achieved under the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Ambitious Agricultural Initiatives
During the press conference, Shri Chouhan announced that the Prime Minister will unveil two major initiatives: the ‘PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana’ and the Self-Reliance in Pulses Mission. These programs are designed to significantly boost farmers’ incomes and strengthen the agricultural sector. The launch will coincide with the birth anniversary of Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, marking a momentous occasion for the agricultural community. The Union Minister noted that the government aims to ensure food security and enhance farmers’ incomes, which have been key priorities since 2014. He highlighted that food grain production has surged by 40%, with India achieving self-reliance in wheat and rice.
Focus on Pulses and Self-Reliance
Shri Chouhan pointed out that despite being the largest producer and consumer of pulses, India remains the biggest importer. To address this issue, the government has initiated the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission. This mission aims to increase the total area under pulse cultivation from 27.5 million hectares to 31 million hectares by 2030-31. The production target is set to rise from 24.2 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes, with productivity increasing from 880 kg per hectare to 1,130 kg per hectare. The Union Minister emphasized the need for self-reliance in pulses to reduce dependency on imports and enhance domestic production.
Research and Development Strategy
To achieve the ambitious targets set under the Pulse Self-Reliance Mission, a comprehensive research and development strategy has been established. This strategy focuses on developing high-yielding, pest-resistant, and climate-resilient varieties of pulses. The government plans to distribute high-quality seeds through “mini kits,” providing 1.26 crore quintals of certified seeds and 88 lakh free seed kits to farmers. Additionally, the establishment of 1,000 processing units in pulse-growing regions is expected to improve prices for farmers and promote local value addition. Each processing unit will receive a government subsidy of ₹25 lakh, reinforcing the government’s commitment to enhancing the agricultural infrastructure.
Targeted Measures for Low-Productivity Districts
Shri Chouhan also discussed the PM Dhan-Dhaanya Yojana, which aims to address agricultural productivity disparities across states and districts. The government plans to identify 100 low-productivity districts and implement targeted measures to enhance productivity. This initiative will focus on improving irrigation coverage, strengthening storage facilities, expanding credit access, and promoting crop diversification. The program is inspired by the Aspirational Districts Model and will be monitored through a dashboard by NITI Aayog. The Union Minister expressed optimism that raising productivity in these districts to the national average could significantly increase overall national production and farmers’ incomes, thereby securing the nation’s food needs.
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