Parliament Question: Support to farmers in Maharashtra under various schemes

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 839 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 06/02/2026 SUPPORT TO FARMERS IN MAHARASHTRA UNDER VARIOUS SCHEMES 839. SHRI SANJAY RAUT: Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state: (a) number of districts and farmers in Maharashtra identified under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PM-DDKY) out of the 100 low-productivity districts, and specific support proposed for drought-prone regions such as Marathwada and Vidarbha; (b) role of State Agricultural Universities and public research institutions in Maharashtra under National Mission on High Yielding Seeds, including the number of climate-resilient seed varieties developed or proposed for the State; and (c) the production and procurement targets for Tur, Urad and Masoor in Maharashtra under the Aatmanirbharta in Pulses Mission and the manner in which the ₹1,000 crore allocation will support farmer incomes during 2025–26? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR) (a): Nine districts from Maharashtra (Palghar, Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Dhule, Raigad, Chandrapur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nanded and Beed), including Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, have been selected under the Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (DDKY). District Action Plan of DDKY districts are formulated and approved by the District Dhan Dhaanya Samiti. The plans are made in convergence of 36 Central Schemes of 11 Departments, state schemes and private sector participation. The specific interventions such as creating irrigation infrastructure and water conservations for drought prone regions have also been addressed in the District plans. (b): New seed varieties are researched and developed by Central Agriculture Universities/State Agriculture Universities. Additionally, the research institutions produces breeder seed taken by seed multiplication agencies for propagation of improved varieties. To carry out applied research on pulses as per the agro-ecologies of the state of Maharashtra, the ICAR is collaborating with four agricultural universities/research institute in the state namely Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidapeeth, Parbhani; Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola; Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri; and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai under ICAR’s AICRPs on Kharif and Rabi Pulses.(c): The Union Cabinet has approved a centrally sponsored scheme namely ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ on 1st October, 2025 aimed at boosting domestic production and achieving self-sufficiency (Aatmanirbharta) in pulses over a six-year period, from 2025-26 to 2030-31. The mission is being implemented in 28 States including Maharashtra and 2 UTs viz., Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. 100 percent procurement from registered farmers of Tur, Urad and Masoor is undertaken under Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanrakshHan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA). The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is providing assistance under ‘Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses’ for the promotion and distribution of Breeder Seeds and Certified seed of notified varieties, strengthening of seed hubs, demonstrations of latest crop production & protection technologies, seed kits, capacity building, post harvest infrastructure etc. *****