When the Union Cabinet approved the Rs 2,400 crore annual outlay for the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) earlier this year, it wasn’t just an economic allocation—it was a strategic intervention for districts that have historically struggled with agricultural stagnation. Spread across 100 of India’s most underperforming agricultural districts and extending over a six-year timeframe, the scheme aims to reverse systemic deficits in productivity, irrigation, market access, and income stability — Maninder Singh Nayyar, Founder and CEO, CEF Group

The PM-DDKY scheme’s impact won’t hinge on funding alone. It will depend on how effectively it brings grassroots innovation into the government fold, especially from startups that are building real-world solutions for rural India. Without meaningful public-private partnerships, even the best-conceived policy risks being lost in bureaucratic inertia.

A Policy That Demands Precision, Not Generalisation

Unlike blanket subsidy schemes, PM-DDKY is tailored with precision. It targets districts that have recorded low credit flow, poor cropping intensity, and limited access to agri-infrastructure. The mission converges 36 central government schemes—from crop diversification and irrigation to post-harvest value chains—under a single umbrella, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. These are not “low-hanging fruits.” They are districts where climate risks, infrastructure gaps, and socio-economic challenges intersect sharply.

In such complex environments, startups—especially those operating in agri-tech, sustainable farming, post-harvest logistics, and rural circular economy—can offer a degree of agility and customisation that conventional state mechanisms often lack. However, to be effective, these startups must not be seen merely as vendors or contractors. Their role must be built into the design of implementation—at both district and state levels.

Several startups today offer remote sensing, soil mapping, and AI-based yield predictions. Others are building modular composting units, decentralised storage systems, and farm-to-market digital platforms. Their innovations are designed for real-world application, often created in direct response to the challenges farmers face, but unless these solutions are integrated into the scheme’s operational planning—through policy linkages, co-investment mechanisms, and procurement reform—they’ll remain on the periphery.

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