The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare is organizing a daylong webinar on "Agriculture and Rural Prosperity" tomorrow, March 1, 2025. The aim of the webinar is to explore the effective implementation of the agricultural initiatives outlined in the 2025 Budget. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver a virtual keynote address at 12:30 PM.
This webinar seeks to foster collaboration among key stakeholders, including Union Ministers, private sector experts, industry representatives, and subject matter specialists. The primary focus is to strategize actionable plans that align with the budget's vision for agricultural growth and rural development. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is scheduled to share his insights at 3:30 PM, contributing to the discussion on enhancing farmer welfare and rural prosperity.
A significant highlight of the 2025 Budget is the introduction of the "Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana," targeting 100 districts with historically low crop productivity. This program aims to benefit approximately 1.7 crore farmers by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, crop diversification, improved irrigation facilities, and enhanced post-harvest storage solutions at the panchayat and block levels. The initiative also emphasizes facilitating both long-term and short-term credit availability to empower farmers financially.
In addition, the budget outlines a six-year initiative called the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, which aims to achieve self-sufficiency in pulse production and reduce reliance on imports. This mission emphasizes procuring pulses at guaranteed prices to encourage farmers to increase their production.
Similarly, a five-year Cotton Mission is designed to enhance cotton productivity, particularly for the extra-long staple variety, through dedicated research and support.
The agriculture budget has seen a fivefold increase, rising from less than Rs 25,000 crores in 2014 to over Rs 1,25,000 crores by 2025.This financial boost aims to modernize agriculture, enhance value addition, and improve market access for farmers.
