Darjeeling Joins the 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts Under PMDDKY to Boost Farming and Livelihoods

KalimNews, September 26, 2025, Kalimpong : Darjeeling has been selected as one of the 100 Agricultural Aspirational Districts under the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) for the next six years, a significant development announced by BJP Member of Parliament, Raju Bista, on Friday. The selection, which is expected to address long-standing agricultural challenges in the region, was confirmed by a letter from Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

In his announcement, Bista expressed his happiness over the district's inclusion, highlighting the immense potential for agricultural development in Darjeeling, despite years of neglect by the West Bengal government. He stated that farmers in the region have long struggled with low productivity and limited access to international markets, a situation that the PMDDKY aims to rectify.

The PMDDKY, as envisioned by the Government of India, is a comprehensive scheme designed to uplift agricultural productivity through a variety of measures. These include promoting crop diversification, implementing sustainable agricultural practices, enhancing irrigation systems, improving post-harvest storage facilities at the panchayat and block levels, and facilitating both short-term and long-term credit for farmers. The scheme's collaborative approach will also bring together multiple departments and ministries to ensure its effective implementation, with the help of state governments.

Bista, who represents Darjeeling in Parliament, emphasized the importance of the PMDDKY in transforming the agricultural landscape of the region. He stated that the program would focus on planning and promoting sustainable farming practices, which will improve the economic conditions and livelihoods of farmers in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and the Chopta Block in the North Dinajpur district.

“I am delighted to share that Darjeeling has been selected as one of the 100 Aspirational Agricultural Districts under PMDDKY for a period of six years,” Bista said. “The farmers in our region have long struggled due to years of neglect, and this initiative will help address these issues, allowing us to promote sustainable agriculture and increase access to wider markets.”

The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in his letter, underscored that the PMDDKY would begin in the fiscal year 2025-26, following the Union Cabinet's approval of the scheme on July 16, 2025. The formal launch is expected in October 2025. Chouhan also noted that the selection of Darjeeling, based on key indicators like low crop productivity, low cropping intensity, and insufficient credit disbursement, is a significant step toward addressing agricultural challenges in the district.

“The PMDDKY will target improving agricultural productivity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and ensuring better storage facilities, irrigation systems, and access to credit,” Chouhan said in his letter. “We hope that the leadership of Shri Raju Bista will help ensure the smooth implementation of the scheme in Darjeeling and beyond.”

A special committee will be formed at the district, state, and national levels to oversee the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the scheme. At the district level, a committee under the District Collector will prepare an action plan and ensure the scheme’s successful execution. Performance will be closely tracked through a dashboard that will monitor key performance indicators.

Bista expressed his confidence that the PMDDKY will play a transformative role in Darjeeling’s agricultural sector. "This is an excellent opportunity for our farmers to build resilience and strengthen their livelihoods through better infrastructure, financial support, and market access. I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the region's farming community."

With this new initiative, Darjeeling is set to benefit from a comprehensive and coordinated effort to improve agricultural practices and elevate the livelihoods of local farmers.