Cabinet approves PM-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote sustainable agriculture

New Delhi [India], October 3 : The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a plan to streamline all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) under the Ministry of Agriculture into two major schemes - the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY).
This decision is in lieu to promote sustainable agriculture and improve food security, and ensure agricultural self-sufficiency in India.
The PM-RKVY is designed to promote sustainable farming practices, while the Krishonnati Yojana focuses on achieving food security. Together, these schemes will be implemented with a total budget of Rs 1,01,321.61 crore, with the central government contributing Rs 69,088.98 crore, and the states contributing Rs 32,232.63 crore. The schemes will be implemented through state governments.
A key feature of this initiative is the flexibility given to states. They can reallocate funds between components based on their specific needs. "State governments will be able to draw a comprehensive strategic plan suiting their requirements for the agriculture sector," Cabinet's official statement said.
Several schemes will continue under these two umbrella programs, such as the National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), Clean Plant Program, Digital Agriculture, and the National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Seeds (NMEO-OS). The official statement added that a component called the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) has been enhanced to provide more flexibility to northeastern states in addressing agricultural challenges.
The rationalisation of these schemes will also allow states to create a "Comprehensive Strategic Document" for their agricultural sector. These documents will focus on improving crop production, tackling climate change issues, and developing value chains for agricultural products.
The PM-RKVY scheme includes a variety of programs, such as Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agroforestry, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Agricultural Mechanization, Per Drop More Crop, and the Crop Diversification Programme. Additionally, it includes a special "Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups" to promote innovation in agriculture.
Further, the Cabinet statement read,"One important change is to provide, in PM-RKVY, the state governments be given flexibility to reallocate funds from one component to another based on their state specific requirements." This shift, as per the statement, will avoid duplication, ensure convergence, and provide more freedom to state governments in planning and executing agricultural strategies.