Key Highlights

• Top districts: Gaya (Bihar) ranked first, Nagaur (Rajasthan) second and Umaria (Madhya Pradesh) third in PMDDKY’s first year.
• 18 more: Districts recognised for excellent work across the scheme’s six objectives.
• Year two goal: Visible, measurable results, especially higher farm incomes, said Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Soil campaign: Khet Bachao Abhiyan to run across all states from October 22 to November 30.
• The scheme: Covers 100 districts with low productivity, cropping intensity and credit access.

Rajasthan’s Nagaur district has been ranked the second-best performing district in the first year of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). Gaya in Bihar took first place, and Umaria in Madhya Pradesh came third. Another 18 districts were recognised for exemplary work across the scheme’s six key objectives.

The awards were presented at an event in New Delhi marking the scheme’s first anniversary.

Top Performers

Why It Matters: A Dryland District Leading the Way

Nagaur’s ranking stands out because of where it is. The scheme covers districts that lag in productivity, cropping intensity and farm credit, often in tough agro-climatic conditions. Nagaur sits in Rajasthan’s dry interior, where water scarcity shapes every farming decision. Finishing second out of 100 shows that district-level planning, matched to local soil, rainfall and crops, can deliver results even in difficult conditions.

For Rajasthan’s other districts in the scheme, Nagaur now offers a model to learn from.

“Year Two Must Show Results”

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the first year was about building foundations, and the next must deliver “visible and measurable outcomes on the ground,” including higher farmer incomes. The real measure of success, he said, would be the difference the scheme makes in farmers’ lives.

He listed the priorities: better productivity, higher cropping intensity, stronger irrigation and water management, easier access to farm credit, high-value agriculture and improved post-harvest infrastructure. The goal, he said, is to make all 100 districts truly “Dhan-Dhaanya,” rich in grain and prosperity.

Khet Bachao Abhiyan

Chouhan also highlighted the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, to be held across all states from October 22 to November 30, 2026. The campaign will promote soil health through balanced and judicious use of fertilisers. He urged states to participate actively, stressing sustainable practices to protect soil fertility and natural resources.

The First Year in Numbers

As reported earlier, the average performance score of the 100 districts rose from 18.85 in April 2026 to 46.89 in August 2026, with all districts preparing and implementing District Agriculture Plans.

The Bottom Line

PMDDKY’s first year has produced its first champions, with Nagaur putting Rajasthan on the podium. Year two will be judged on a tougher test: whether farmers’ incomes actually rise.

With inputs from IANS.

Key Highlights

• Top districts: Gaya (Bihar) ranked first, Nagaur (Rajasthan) second and Umaria (Madhya Pradesh) third in PMDDKY’s first year.
• 18 more: Districts recognised for excellent work across the scheme’s six objectives.
• Year two goal: Visible, measurable results, especially higher farm incomes, said Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
• Soil campaign: Khet Bachao Abhiyan to run across all states from October 22 to November 30.
• The scheme: Covers 100 districts with low productivity, cropping intensity and credit access.

Rajasthan’s Nagaur district has been ranked the second-best performing district in the first year of the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). Gaya in Bihar took first place, and Umaria in Madhya Pradesh came third. Another 18 districts were recognised for exemplary work across the scheme’s six key objectives.

The awards were presented at an event in New Delhi marking the scheme’s first anniversary.

Top Performers

Why It Matters: A Dryland District Leading the Way

Nagaur’s ranking stands out because of where it is. The scheme covers districts that lag in productivity, cropping intensity and farm credit, often in tough agro-climatic conditions. Nagaur sits in Rajasthan’s dry interior, where water scarcity shapes every farming decision. Finishing second out of 100 shows that district-level planning, matched to local soil, rainfall and crops, can deliver results even in difficult conditions.

For Rajasthan’s other districts in the scheme, Nagaur now offers a model to learn from.

“Year Two Must Show Results”

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the first year was about building foundations, and the next must deliver “visible and measurable outcomes on the ground,” including higher farmer incomes. The real measure of success, he said, would be the difference the scheme makes in farmers’ lives.

He listed the priorities: better productivity, higher cropping intensity, stronger irrigation and water management, easier access to farm credit, high-value agriculture and improved post-harvest infrastructure. The goal, he said, is to make all 100 districts truly “Dhan-Dhaanya,” rich in grain and prosperity.

Khet Bachao Abhiyan

Chouhan also highlighted the Khet Bachao Abhiyan, to be held across all states from October 22 to November 30, 2026. The campaign will promote soil health through balanced and judicious use of fertilisers. He urged states to participate actively, stressing sustainable practices to protect soil fertility and natural resources.

The First Year in Numbers

As reported earlier, the average performance score of the 100 districts rose from 18.85 in April 2026 to 46.89 in August 2026, with all districts preparing and implementing District Agriculture Plans.

The Bottom Line

PMDDKY’s first year has produced its first champions, with Nagaur putting Rajasthan on the podium. Year two will be judged on a tougher test: whether farmers’ incomes actually rise.

With inputs from IANS.