Context:

On October 4, 2025, the Government of India announced the identification of 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts under the Prime Minister Dhan‑Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). These districts, spread across 29 States and Union Territories, will receive focused interventions to improve agricultural productivity and allied aspects. The State with the highest number of districts selected is Uttar Pradesh, with 12 districts.

Background:

• • PMDDKY was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 to run for six years from 2025‑26. It is the first scheme that focuses exclusively on agriculture (and allied sectors) in a mission‑mode way, drawing inspiration from the NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Districts Programme.
  • It was announced in the Union Budget 2025‑26. Its goal is to boost performance in agriculture in poorly performing districts through integrated efforts across multiple departments.

Key Features & Selection Criteria:

• • The 100 districts have been selected on three principal indicators:

1.       Low agricultural productivity

2.      Moderate/low cropping intensity

3.      Below average access to agricultural credit

• • Each State or UT will have at least one district chosen. The number of districts per state or UT beyond that is proportional to its net cropped area and number of operational holdings.
  • Scheme does not have a distinct new budget line; rather, implementation will happen through convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 Central Government departments, along with state schemes and private sector / local partnerships.
  • Monitoring & implementation frameworks include:
    • Creation of District Agriculture and Allied Activities Plan via District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti (which includes progressive farmers)
    • Formation of committees at District, State, and National levels.
    • Use of 117 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), tracked monthly through a dashboard.
    • Appointment of Central Nodal Officers for each district for oversight.

Selected districts:

Uttar Pradesh has 12 districts selected — the highest number among all states. The UP districts include Mahoba, Sonbhadra, Hamirpur, Banda, Jalaun, Jhansi, Unnao, Prayagraj, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Shravasti, and Lalitpur.

• • Other states’ shares:
    • Maharashtra: 9 districts
    • Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan: 8 each
    • Bihar: 7 districts
    • Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal: 4 each
    • Assam, Chhattisgarh, Kerala: 3 each
    • Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand: 2 each
    • 11 states (including Punjab, Himachal, Goa, etc.) have one district each.

Expected Outcomes:

• • Improved agricultural productivity in lagging districts, thereby helping to raise the national averages of yield, cropping intensity, and credit access.
  • Adoption of sustainable practices, better post‑harvest infrastructure (storage etc.) at local (block, panchayat) levels.
  • Facilitation of both short‑term and long‑term credit to farmers, easing financing constraints.
  • Crop diversification, soil and water conservation, promotion of organic/natural farming will be part of district plans.
  • Better livelihood opportunities and value addition in agriculture and allied sectors.

Conclusion:

The announcement of the 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts under PMDDKY is a signal of focused agricultural policy,  trying to reduce regional disparities by targeting underperforming areas. If the scheme delivers on its promise, it could catalyse higher productivity, increase farmer incomes, and move several lagging districts toward more resilient agricultural systems.