SKUAST-K organises PM-DDKY launch’s live telecast
Srinagar, Oct 11: The Directorate of Extension, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir (SKUAST-K) organised the live telecast of the launch of the Prime Minister DhanDhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) on Saturday.
It was a landmark initiative aimed at catalysing agricultural growth across 100 agriculture districts in the country, a statement of SKUAST-K issued here said.
It said that the event drew an enthusiastic gathering of around 240 participants, comprising progressive farmers from different districts of Kashmir, along with students, scientists, and extension officials of the university.
The participants attentively listened to the Prime Minister’s address, which outlined the government’s vision for transforming Indian agriculture through convergence, innovation, and farmer empowerment.
The PM-DDKY, with an annual outlay of Rs 24,000 crore for six years starting FY 2025-26, seeks to enhance productivity, promote crop diversification, improve irrigation and storage infrastructure, and ensure credit access for farmers.
The scheme builds upon the success of the Aspirational District Programme and aims to directly benefit 1.7 crore farmers across India through saturation-based convergence of 36 central schemes implemented by 11 ministries.
As part of the broader agricultural transformation drive, PM Modi also launched, inaugurated, and dedicated several major projects and schemes worth over Rs 42,000 crore in the agriculture and allied sectors.
Among these, the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in pulses, with an outlay of Rs 11,440 crore, seeks to achieve self-reliance in pulses by enhancing productivity, expanding cultivated areas, and strengthening the value chain.
The PM also interacted with farmers engaged in pulse cultivation.
Speaking on the occasion, Associate Director Extension (Agriculture) SKUAST-K, Prof Amal Saxena, highlighted the importance of the PM-DDKY in strengthening the rural economy and empowering farmers of J&K through focused and integrated interventions across agriculture and allied sectors.
The programme concluded with an interactive session where farmers expressed optimism that the new initiatives would boost agricultural sustainability, improve farm incomes, and contribute significantly to the overall economic development of the region.
