On 7 July 2026 the PRAGATI initiative was launched to empower 20,000 agri-entrepreneurs and directly support 20 lakh smallholder farmers across India.
Key Targets
- Scale: Empower 20,000 new agri-entrepreneurs; support 20 lakh farmers.
- Income: Target a 30% increase in farmer incomes for participating households.
- Yield: Aim for 15–20% higher yields for crops such as paddy, maize and potato.
- Regenerative agriculture: Adoption target of at least 20% of participating farmers.
- Financial inclusion: Achieve formal financial access for 50% of associated farmers; emphasise women farmers.
Geography & Partners
- States: Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan.
- Partners: Coalition includes PepsiCo Foundation, SBI Foundation, Gates Foundation, IDH, Heifer International, Environmental Defense Fund and others.
Implementation Mechanism
- Kiosks: 20,000 village-level entrepreneur-led kiosks providing advisory, mechanisation, soil-health support, finance, insurance and market linkages.
- Network baseline: Builds on an existing network of 26,000 agri-entrepreneurs serving 2.6 million farmers.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Regenerative agriculture (definition): Practices that rebuild soil organic matter, enhance biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration.
- Ministry link: Initiative launched from the office of the Union Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- Claim: Described as the largest privately-led agri-entrepreneurship programme in India.