Kishtwar Selected as Aspirational Agricultural District under PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana

Kishtwar (J&K), Sept 29: In a significant boost to the agricultural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Kishtwar district has been selected as an Aspirational Agricultural District under the newly launched Prime Minister Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY).

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a communication to Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr. Jitendra Singh, confirmed the inclusion of Kishtwar in the list of 100 aspirational agricultural districts identified across the country.

The initiative, announced in the Union Budget 2025-26, aims to run for six years and is designed to enhance agricultural productivity, promote crop diversification, improve irrigation facilities, and ensure greater access to short- and long-term agricultural credit. The formal launch of the scheme is scheduled for October 2025.

Highlighting the importance of this recognition, Dr. Jitendra Singh took to social media, calling it a “breakthrough” for Kishtwar. He stated, “As a follow-up to PM Narendra Modi’s vision to develop 100 aspirational agricultural districts, Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir has been selected for this prestigious initiative.” He also thanked Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for facilitating the inclusion.

#Kishtwar Breakthrough:

As a follow up to PM Sh @narendramodi’s thoughtful advice to develop 100 districts across the country as #AspirationalAgriculturalDistricts under “PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana”(#PMDDKY)… in #JammuAndKashmir, district Kishtwar has been selected to be… pic.twitter.com/uFxCiWerRd

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) September 29, 2025

According to the Ministry, the selection was based on three critical indicators: low crop productivity, low cropping intensity, and limited access to short-term credit. The scheme will be implemented through coordinated efforts of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW), other ministries, and state governments. Committees at the district, state, and national levels will monitor progress through well-defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

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Chouhan expressed hope that the move would empower local farmers, improve post-harvest management, and generate new opportunities for sustainable growth in Kishtwar.