PMDDKY and Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses Launched in Manipur to Boost Agricultural Self-Reliance
In a significant step towards strengthening India’s agricultural sector, Manipur today witnessed the launch of two flagship national initiatives — the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses — at a state-level event organised by the Department of Agriculture at the MSFDS Auditorium, Imphal.
Chief Secretary Dr. Puneet Kumar Goel, addressing the gathering, described the launch as a “transformative step” under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister. “These initiatives reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening agriculture, ensuring nutritional security, and enhancing farmers’ welfare,” he said.
The Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with an outlay of ₹11,400 crore, aims to make India self-sufficient in pulses production. The mission targets expansion of cultivation by 35 lakh hectares, development and distribution of high-yielding seed varieties, and improved accessibility of seeds and inputs for farmers. Highlighting Manipur’s agricultural potential, Dr. Goel urged departments to collaborate under the Agriculture Department’s guidance, noting, “We must aim to bring Tamenglong among the top ten districts in the national ranking.”
PMDDKY, modelled on the Aspirational District Programme of NITI Aayog, will serve as a convergence-based model to boost agricultural productivity in India’s 100 least-developed agricultural districts. Rather than creating new funding channels, the scheme will integrate 36 existing schemes across 11 ministries, focusing on crop diversification, irrigation improvement, credit access, and sustainable farming. Tamenglong district has been selected under PMDDKY to address challenges such as low crop yield and water scarcity. Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Shri Vivek Kumar Dewangan stated that the initiative will help the district contribute meaningfully to national food security.
The Department of Agriculture announced plans to distribute 1,400 quintals of mustard, pea, and lentil seeds under the National Mission on Edible Oils by the end of October, along with 40,000 bags of urea during the first phase of the Rabi season. Post-harvest storage enhancement, irrigation facility improvements, and promotion of horticulture, animal husbandry, and fisheries are also being planned. Coordination with NABARD and other financial institutions will ensure adequate credit support for farmers.
Monitoring will take place at three levels: nationally by the Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, at the state level by the Chief Secretary, and at the district level by a committee led by the Deputy Commissioner. Tamenglong’s model action plan will be shared as a best-practice reference for other districts.
A highlight of the event was the felicitation of AKOI Rice Mill Associates, which received the first Agmark certification for Chakhao (aromatic black rice), marking a milestone for Manipur’s agricultural products. Certificates of recognition and subsidies of ₹7.5 lakh for vehicle procurement were also awarded to YELHOU Farmer Producer Company Ltd., SANNA LEIPAK Organic FPC, and CHUMTHANG Organic Farmers Producer Company Ltd. Selected farmers received pumps, sprinkler sets under PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), power sprayers under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), and Soil Health Cards under the Soil Health and Fertility Programme.
The event was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Textiles, Commerce & Industry) Shri Anurag Bajpai and other Agriculture Department officials. A live telecast of the Prime Minister’s national launch from New Delhi was also shown during the function.
These initiatives are expected to significantly enhance productivity, nutritional security, and income generation for farmers in Manipur while contributing to India’s goal of agricultural self-reliance.