Gandhinagar: Three districts of Gujarat, Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur have received awards for excellence under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY), which completed its first year on October 12.
According to the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office, the awards recognise the districts’ performance in improving agricultural governance, service delivery and irrigation infrastructure.
The awards were presented at a programme organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in New Delhi to recognise districts across the country that made significant progress during the first year of the scheme’s implementation.
Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented the award to Kutch for better governance and service delivery. Dahod and Chhota Udepur received awards for their outstanding performance in improving irrigation infrastructure.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel congratulated the district administrations and Agriculture Department officials of all three districts on receiving the recognition.
Irrigation Improvements Boost Agricultural Development
The Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office highlighted the importance of irrigation facilities in promoting sustainable agricultural development, particularly in hilly and tribal districts such as Dahod and Chhota Udepur.
According to the official release, sustained efforts by the district administrations to expand irrigation capacity, strengthen infrastructure and ensure an adequate water supply to farmers have improved water availability for agriculture.
These improvements have contributed to significant gains in agricultural productivity and output in the two districts.
The recognition also highlights the importance of effective local administration and infrastructure development in addressing agricultural challenges and improving farming outcomes.
PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana Completes First Year
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana on October 12, 2025, with an outlay of Rs 24,000 crore. The scheme covers 100 agricultural aspirational districts across the country that have potential for agricultural development but lag in productivity and economic growth.
The initiative focuses on districts characterised by low agricultural productivity, moderate crop intensity and below-average agricultural credit parameters.
During the first year of implementation, 18 districts were recognised for excellence across six key objectives:
- Increasing agricultural productivity.
- Promoting crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Enhancing post-harvest storage capacity.
- Improving irrigation infrastructure.
- Increasing access to short-term and long-term agricultural credit.
- Ensuring effective governance and service delivery.
The awards aim to recognise progress across these priority areas and encourage improvements in agricultural development.
Four Gujarat Districts Covered Under the Scheme
Four districts of Gujarat: Kutch, Dahod, Chhota Udepur and Panchmahal are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
The recognition of Kutch, Dahod and Chhota Udepur during the scheme’s first-year assessment highlights their progress in governance, service delivery and irrigation development.
The initiative seeks to strengthen agricultural infrastructure, improve access to essential resources and promote sustainable livelihoods for farmers in districts with significant agricultural development potential.