PM DHARA Scheme

• PM DHARA — Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana.
• It is aimed at improving agricultural productivity and supporting farmers in selected districts.
• Focus areas include:
  • Increasing agricultural productivity.
  • Crop diversification.
  • Sustainable agriculture practices.
  • Improving post-harvest storage at the panchayat/block level.
  • Improving irrigation facilities.
  • Facilitating access to long-term and short-term credit.
• The scheme focuses on districts with low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and low credit disbursement.
• It seeks to converge existing schemes and programmes rather than functioning entirely as a standalone intervention.

Prelims Question

Q. With reference to the PM DHARA scheme, consider the following statements:

1. It focuses on improving agricultural productivity in selected districts.
2. It promotes crop diversification and sustainable agricultural practices.
3. It seeks to improve access to agricultural credit.
4. It is implemented only through the creation of entirely new schemes rather than convergence of existing schemes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation: PM DHARA focuses on improving agricultural productivity, crop diversification, sustainable agriculture, irrigation, storage and access to credit, while also emphasising the convergence of existing schemes.