The Central Government has introduced the PRAGATI Project, an initiative focused on empowering rural entrepreneurs and improving the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers. In a major push to strengthen India’s agricultural ecosystem, the programme aims to nurture 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs who will provide on-ground support to more than 20 lakh farmers, helping them adopt modern agricultural practices, improve productivity and build more resilient farming enterprises. Learn in-depth in this article.
- PRAGATI Project Highlights
- What Is the PRAGATI Project?
- Key Objectives of the PRAGATI Initiative
- How Will PRAGATI Project Benefit Farmers?
- Technology and Sustainable Farming at the Core of the PRAGATI Project
- Women and Rural Youth to Play a Leading Role in PRAGATI Project
- States Covered Under the First Phase of the PRAGATI Project
- A Multi-Partner Initiative
- Annapurna Muhim: A Grassroots Initiative Supporting Farmers
PRAGATI Project Highlights
- India has taken another step towards strengthening its agricultural sector with the launch of the PRAGATI Project, a nationwide initiative designed to create a new generation of rural agri-entrepreneurs while improving the livelihoods of millions of small and marginal farmers.
- With the launch of the PRAGATI Project on 7 July 2026, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced an ambitious plan to create 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs who will guide and assist over 20 lakh farmers in different parts of the country.
- The announcement was made at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi.
- It must be noted that while Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has himself tweeted the number as 26,000 agricultural entrepreneurs, the PIB News Release states the number as 20,000.
- The initiative represents a collaborative effort involving government institutions, development organisations, financial partners and private stakeholders to make Indian agriculture more productive, resilient and profitable (PIB News Release)
What Is the PRAGATI Project?
PRAGATI is a national agricultural entrepreneurship initiative that focuses on empowering rural youth to become professional agri-entrepreneurs.
All data below as per the PIB News Release:
- Instead of limiting support to traditional farming practices, the project aims to build a strong ecosystem where trained entrepreneurs provide farmers with technical guidance, business support, access to modern farming technologies and stronger market connections.
- The initiative is expected to particularly benefit small and marginal farmers, who often face challenges such as limited access to quality advisory services, mechanisation, finance and reliable markets.
- By creating trained professionals within villages themselves, the government hopes to bridge these long-standing gaps while promoting sustainable agricultural growth.
Key Objectives of the PRAGATI Initiative
The newly launched programme has set several measurable targets that focus on improving both agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods.
Some of its major objectives include (Source: PIB):
- Developing 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs across India.
- Reaching more than 20 lakh small and marginal farmers.
- Increasing farmers’ incomes by at least 30%.
- Improving yields of major crops such as rice, maize and potato by 15-20%.
- Encouraging wider adoption of regenerative agricultural practices.
- Expanding financial literacy and improving farmers’ access to formal financial services.
How Will PRAGATI Project Benefit Farmers?
A distinguishing feature of the PRAGATI Project is its village-level support model.
- The trained agri-entrepreneurs will function as local resource persons, helping farmers with a wide range of services including soil testing, access to farm machinery, technical guidance, financial linkages, market access and information on alternative income opportunities, etc.
- The initiative also places considerable emphasis on value addition and diversification.
- Farmers will be encouraged to explore activities beyond conventional crop cultivation, including horticulture, dairy farming, fisheries and beekeeping.
- These additional income streams are expected to reduce dependence on a single crop while strengthening overall household earnings.
Technology and Sustainable Farming at the Core of the PRAGATI Project
During the launch, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasised that India’s vision of becoming a developed nation cannot be achieved without prosperous villages and a modern agricultural sector.
- He highlighted the importance of reducing cultivation costs while increasing productivity through scientific farming methods.
- Technologies such as drones, digital advisory platforms, mechanisation and improved soil health management are expected to play an important role under the PRAGATI framework.
- Another major focus is climate resilience.
- The project also promotes regenerative agriculture, encouraging farming practices that improve soil health, conserve natural resources and strengthen the long-term sustainability of agricultural production.
Women and Rural Youth to Play a Leading Role in PRAGATI Project
The programme also seeks to expand participation among women and rural youth.
- Women entrepreneurs and ‘Krishi Sakhis’ are expected to become important drivers of agricultural transformation within villages.
- By strengthening their role in agricultural advisory and rural enterprise, the initiative aims to generate new employment opportunities while promoting inclusive rural development.
- According to the government, empowering a single agri-entrepreneur has the potential to positively influence an entire farming community by improving access to knowledge, technology and business opportunities.
States Covered Under the First Phase of the PRAGATI Project
The PRAGATI Project will initially be implemented across eight major agricultural states:
- Madhya Pradesh
- Uttar Pradesh
- Bihar
- Maharashtra
- Rajasthan
- West Bengal
- Assam
- Jharkhand
These states represent a significant share of India’s agricultural output and include millions of smallholder farmers who stand to benefit from improved advisory services and stronger market integration.
A Multi-Partner Initiative
PRAGATI brings together a broad network of organisations from the public, private and development sectors.
The initiative is supported by partners including the PepsiCo Foundation, SBI Foundation, Gates Foundation, IDH, Heifer International, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Global Agri Entrepreneurship Academy, SAFIA, Agri Entrepreneur Growth Foundation (AEGF) and Transform Rural India Foundation (TRIF). (Source: PIB Press Release)
Together, these organisations will contribute towards entrepreneur training, financial inclusion, digital support, market linkages, technical assistance and the promotion of sustainable farming practices.
Though the PRAGATI Project seems promising, the real litmus test will be once on ground roll-out takes place.
Annapurna Muhim: A Grassroots Initiative Supporting Farmers
Despite innumerable on-paper initiatives by the Government of India, our farmers have been the most neglected segment of society, despite being the food providers. This stark reality became even more visible during the 2025 flash floods that left several farmlands submerged in water for a long time, destroying the crops.
While the farmers kept pleading for help, only One benevolent Messiah heard their cries and sent help at a lightning speed. Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’s historic Annapurna Muhim also extended its functions to embrace distraught farmers. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj provided them with unconditional support through pipes, motors and all equipment required to remove the stagnant waters rotting the fields.
Farmers were not only able to revive their farmlands through Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj’s gracious help, but could also reap a harvest better than ever.
Initially launched to ensure that no poor family sleeps hungry, the mission has gradually expanded into a broader humanitarian programme that supports vulnerable households with food, clothing, housing, education and medical assistance. As Annapurna Muhim enters its phase 3 under the divine guidance of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj, farmers can now also avail free seed supply and absolutely anything else they need for farming. Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj endeavours to make farming costs zero for farmers.
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj aims to make India the erstwhile golden bird it was ages ago by providing unconditional support to our farmers – the food providers. Anyone who wishes to avail support from Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj Ji under His iconic Annapurna Muhim, can reach here.
