Dantewada district has earned national recognition for its efforts to advance agriculture and improve farmers’ livelihoods in Chhattisgarh.
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has conferred a ‘Certificate of Excellence’ on the district under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh presented the award in recognition of the district’s achievements.
Congratulating the district, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said, “Dantewada’s national recognition under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana is a matter of great pride for Chhattisgarh.
Under the guidance of Collector Shri Devesh Kumar Dhruv, the district administration, Agriculture Department and our hardworking farmers have made dedicated efforts to advance agricultural development, encourage crop diversification and strengthen livelihoods. This recognition reflects the results of their collective efforts. ‘
The state government remains firmly committed to empowering farmers and making agriculture a more remunerative occupation.”
National recognition for Collector Shri Devesh Kumar Dhruv’s leadership
Under the leadership and guidance of Collector Shri Devesh Kumar Dhruv, Dantewada has continued to strengthen its initiatives for agricultural development and farmers’ welfare. The award acknowledges the district’s efforts to improve agricultural practices, expand opportunities for farmers and ensure the effective implementation of government schemes.
Objectives and significance of the scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana aims to enhance agricultural productivity, encourage farmers to diversify their crops, expand irrigation facilities and improve access to agricultural resources. The recognition is particularly significant for Dantewada, a predominantly tribal district, where improvements in agriculture can strengthen rural livelihoods and create greater opportunities for farmers to participate in the development process.
At the national level, the scheme aims to improve agricultural performance in 100 aspirational agricultural districts by raising productivity and increasing farmers’ incomes. The districts have been identified on the basis of low agricultural productivity, low cropping intensity and gaps in the distribution of agricultural credit through the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) system.
The scheme focuses on extending irrigation facilities to every farm, expanding warehouse capacity at panchayat and block levels, encouraging crop diversification and ensuring that farmers have access to affordable credit.
The recognition acknowledges the combined efforts of Agriculture Department officials, field staff and other stakeholders working to improve the agricultural sector. It also strengthens the district’s commitment to raising farm productivity and making agriculture more remunerative for farmers