New Delhi, October 11(HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a special Krishi programme at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi today, marking a major boost to India’s agriculture and allied sectors. The Prime Minister will launch, inaugurate, and lay foundation stones for projects and schemes worth over ₹42,000 crore aimed at transforming rural infrastructure, modernizing farming practices, and promoting self-reliance in key agri-produce.

At the event, which begins at 10:30 a.m., the Prime Minister will interact with farmers engaged in pulses cultivation before addressing a large gathering. The Ministry of Agriculture has said the initiative reflects the government’s continued commitment to welfare of farmers and India’s goal of achieving Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in agriculture.

Two Flagship Schemes to Drive Growth

PM Modi will unveil two landmark initiatives with a combined outlay of ₹35,440 crore. The first, PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana, with an investment of ₹24,000 crore, seeks to enhance agricultural productivity across 100 districts. The scheme will focus on encouraging crop diversification, promoting sustainable practices, strengthening post-harvest infrastructure at panchayat and block levels, improving irrigation, and ensuring access to short- and long-term credit.

The second initiative, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, carries an outlay of ₹11,440 crore. It aims to boost productivity, expand pulses cultivation, and fortify the value chain from procurement to storage and processing, thereby reducing import dependence on pulses.

Major Infrastructure Boost Across Sectors

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate and dedicate a series of projects worth over ₹5,450 crore in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing, along with laying the foundation for projects valued around ₹815 crore.Among them are the Artificial Insemination Training Centres in Bengaluru and Jammu & Kashmir, Centres of Excellence at Amreli and Banas, and an IVF laboratory under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission in Assam.

Several Milk Powder Plants at Mehsana, Indore, and Bhilwara, and a Fish Feed Plant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana at Tezpur, Assam, will also be inaugurated.

New foundations will be laid for advanced Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, Trout Fisheries in Uttarakhand, an Integrated Aqua Park in Nagaland, a Smart Fishing Harbour in Puducherry, and a state-of-the-art Aquapark in Hirakud, Odisha.

Recognizing Farmer Achievements

During the event, PM Modi will distribute certificates to farmers certified under the National Mission for Natural Farming and to MAITRI technicians, as well as Primary Agricultural Cooperative Credit Societies (PACS) transformed into Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samriddhi Kendras (PMKSKs) and Common Service Centres (CSCs).

The government will also celebrate milestones such as 50 lakh farmers joining 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), with 1,100 FPOs crossing ₹1 crore in annual turnover during 2024–25. Additionally, 50,000 farmers have been certified under natural farming standards, and over 10,000 PACS have diversified operations to serve as PMKSKs and CSCs.

Today’s event signifies another major chapter in India’s agricultural journey — one focused on innovation, sustainability, and empowerment of farmers at the grassroots level.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar