Pradhan Mantri Dhan Yojana and Dal Swavalamban Mission launched at Indian Water Management Institute
Bhubaneswar(By Abhishek Mohanty): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated more than 1,100 projects worth over Rs 42,000 crore aimed at empowering farmers across the nation. These initiatives cover key sectors including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing. On this occasion, the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Yojana and the Dal Swavalamban Mission were also launched to promote agricultural self-reliance and rural prosperity.
At the regional ceremony organized at the Indian Water Management Institute (ICAR-IWMI), Bhubaneswar, Dr. Krushna Chandra Mohapatra, Minister of Housing, Urban Development and Public Enterprises, Government of Odisha, graced the event as Chief Guest and addressed the participating farmers.
In his address, Dr. Mohapatra highlighted the rapid progress of the country under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister. He stated that Shri Modi’s vision is to empower India’s farmers and transform the nation into the breadbasket of the world. Drawing attention to the country’s dependence on imports to meet pulse requirements, he underlined the Government’s resolve to expand the area under pulse cultivation from 27.5 million hectares to 31 million hectares by 2030–31.
Under the initiative, 12.6 million quintals of certified seeds and 88 lakh free mini seed kits will be distributed to farmers. A target has also been set to establish 1,000 food processing units across the country, each with a subsidy of Rs 25 lakh per unit.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Yojana, 100 low-productivity districts have been identified nationwide, including Kandhamal, Malkangiri, Nuapada, and Sundargarh in Odisha. Efforts in these districts will focus on irrigation improvement, access to credit, crop protection, and diversification to boost both production and productivity.
To mark the occasion, a scientist–farmer seminar was organized at IWMI, with participation from over 200 farmers from Cuttack, Khurda, Puri, and Nayagarh districts. Scientists from the institute interacted with farmers, addressing their queries and sharing innovative agricultural practices. Certified grain seeds and vegetable seed kits were distributed to farmers in the presence of the Minister.
Dr. Arjamadutt Sadangi, Director, ICAR-IWMI, highlighted advanced technologies developed by the Institute for achieving higher yields with efficient water use. He urged farmers to adopt these technologies and share the knowledge with others. The programme was ably moderated by Dr. Sumant Kumar Mishra, Chief Scientist of the Institute, who also proposed the vote of thanks.
