Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Name of the Scheme-  Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana ( RKVY)

Department – Agriculture and Allied Department , 9 departments @ Horticulture, Cooperation, Sericulture , Soil, Honey Mission, Livestock Marketing Board, Nagaland State Agriculture Produce and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Bio-Res Mission,  Land Resource Department

Scheme for : Individual and Institutions

Where to Apply : District Headquarter Office.

When to Apply : April to June

Name of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Introduction

• Economic reforms initiated since 1991 have put the Indian economy on a higher growth trajectory. Annual growth rate in the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has accelerated from below 6 per cent during the initial years of reforms to more than 8 per cent in recent years. The Planning Commission in its approach paper to the Eleventh Five-Year-plan has stated that 9 per cent growth rate in GDP would be feasible during the Eleventh Plan period. However, Agriculture, that accounted for more than 30 per cent of total GDP at the beginning of reforms, failed to maintain its pre-reform growth. On the contrary, it witnessed a sharp deceleration in growth after the mid-1990s. This happened despite the fact that agricultural productivity in most of the states was quite low as it were, and the potential for the growth of agriculture was high.

• The GDP of agriculture increased annually at more than 3 per cent during the 1980s. Since the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996 to 2001-02), India has been targeting a growth rate of more than 4 per cent in agriculture, but the actual achievement has been much below the target. More than 50 per cent of the workforce of the country still depends upon agriculture for it’s livelihood. Slow growth in Agriculture and allied sectors can lead to acute stress in the economy because the population dependent upon this sector is still very large. A major cause behind the slow growth in agriculture is the consistent decrease in investments in the sector by the state governments. While public and private investments are increasing manifold in sectors such as infrastructure, similar investments are not forthcoming in Agriculture and allied sectors, leading to distress in the community of farmers, especially that of the small and marginal segment. Hence the need for incentivising states that increase their investments in the Agriculture and allied sectors has been felt.

• Concerned by the slow growth in the Agriculture and allied sectors, the National Development Council (NDC), in its meeting held on 29^th May, 2007 resolved that a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme (RKVY) be launched. The NDC resolved that agricultural development strategies must be reoriented to meet the needs of farmers and called upon the Central and State governments to evolve a strategy to rejuvenate agriculture. The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to achieve 4 per cent annual growth in the agricultural sector during the 11^th plan. The Resolution with respect to the Additional Central Assistance scheme reads as below:

Introduce a new Additional Central Assistance scheme to incentivise States to draw up plans for their agriculture sector more comprehensively, taking agro-climatic conditions, natural resource issues and technology into account, and integrating livestock, poultry and fisheries more fully. This will involve a new scheme for Additional Central Assistance to State Plans, administered by the Union Ministry of Agriculture over and above its existing Centrally Sponsored schemes, to supplement the State-specific strategies including special schemes for beneficiaries of land reforms. The newly created National Rainfed Area Authority will on request assist States in planning for rainfed areas.

• The Department of Agriculture, in compliance of the above resolution and in consultation with the Planning Commission, has prepared the guidelines for the RKVY scheme, to be known as NADP (RKVY), that are contained in this document.

Basic Features of the RKVY

• The RKVY aims at achieving 4% annual growth in the agriculture sector during the XI Plan period, by ensuring a holistic development of Agriculture and allied sectors. The main objectives of the scheme are :
  • To incentivise the states so as to increase public investment in Agriculture and allied sectors.
  • To provide flexibility and autonomy to states in the process of planning and executing Agriculture and allied sector schemes.
  • To ensure the preparation of agriculture plans for the districts and the states based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources.
  • To ensure that the local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected in the agricultural plans of the states.
  • To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops, through focussed interventions.
  • To maximize returns to the farmers in Agriculture and allied sectors.
  • To bring about quantifiable changes in the production and productivity of various components of Agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them in a holistic manner.

Areas of focus under the RKVY

• The components / activities which would be eligible for project based assistance under the Stream-I of the RKVY are elaborated below. This is an indicative list; the states may choose other components/activities, but ensure that they are reflected adequately in the SAP and the DAP. The scheme(s) administered by the Departments of Agriculture and Cooperation, and Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries covering the following components already have elaborate guidelines, which ought to be followed by the implementing Agencies. Assistance for new component(s), if any, could be worked out in consultation with the State Level Sanctioning Committee. The components for the RKVY could cover the following:
  • Integrated development of major food crops such as wheat, paddy, coarse cereals, minor millets, pulses, oilseeds: Assistance can be provided for making available certified/HYV seeds to farmers; production of breeder seed; purchase of breeder seed from institutions such as ICAR, public sector seed corporations, production of foundation seed; production of certified seed; seed treatment; Farmers Field Schools at demonstration sites; training of farmers etc. Similar support would be provided for development of other crops such as sugarcane, cotton or any other crop/variety that may be of importance to the state.
  • Agriculture mechanization: Assistance would be provided for farm mechanization efforts especially for improved and gender friendly tools, implements and machinery. Specific agricultural mechanization projects oriented toward enhancing farm productivity can be considered under this scheme. However, tractors are not covered under the scheme.
  • Activities related to enhancement of soil health: This would include efficient quality control of inputs including strengthening of laboratories and enhancing soil health. Assistance can be provided to the farmers for distributing soil health cards; micro nutrient demonstration; training of farmers for promotion of organic farming including printing of publicity/utility literature; assistance to the state government to strengthen existing soil testing and fertilizer testing laboratories and setting up new ones; amelioration of soils affected with conditions such as alkalinity and acidity.
  • Development of rainfed farming systems in and outside watershed areas, as also Integrated development of watershed areas, wastelands, river valleys: Assistance for development of land as also assistance for horticulture, generating livelihoods for farmers Below the Poverty Line (BPL).
  • Support to State seed farms: State farms that are used for both research and seed production purposes may be provided funds in a project mode covering aspects such as land development, creation of irrigation facilities, upgrading technology, etc. However, new land acquisition is not permitted.
  • Integrated Pest Management schemes : This would include training of farmers through Farm Field Schools etc. on pest management practices; printing of literature/ other awareness programmes.
  • Encouraging non-farm activities: Assistance to agri-entreprenuers / agri-graduates to set up agri-clinics / agri-business centres.
  • Strengthening of Market Infrastructure and marketing development: Assistance for setting up of cold storages, cold chains, godowns, formation of farmer’s SHGs, setting up collection centre etc. Assistance to PRIs/SHGs in promoting collection and sale to mandis/government agencies.
  • Strengthening of Infrastructure to promote Extension Services: This would include new initiatives for skill development and training in the farming community and to revamp the existing State agricultural extension systems.
  • Activities relating to enhancement of horticultural production and popularization of micro irrigation systems: Assistance will be available for nursery development, horticulture activities including marketing and drip/sprinkler irrigation.
  • Animal husbandry and fisheries development activities: Assistance will be available for improvement in fodder production, genetic upgradation of cattle and buffaloes, enhancement of milk production, enlarging raw material base for leather industry, improvement in livestock health, poultry development, development of small ruminants and enhanced fish production.
  • Special schemes for beneficiaries of land reforms: Assistance will be available for improving the net minimum income of this category of beneficiaries. Beneficiaries of land reforms are usually small and marginal farmers. Making their agriculture viable will be possible only when capital investments on land development, irrigation, high- technology infrastructure in emerging areas such as floriculture, horticulture, seed production, etc are made. Specific projects for groups of such beneficiaries can be taken up with provision for common infrastructure.
  • Undertaking concept to completion projects: Undertaking specific projects under agriculture/horticulture/ allied sectors in a concept to completion mode with attention given to all the components such as crop production, technology induction, farmer training, forward and backward linkages, either entirely in the state sector or in partnership with the private sector, where necessary and possible, is permitted under the scheme. Beneficiaries under such projects should, however, predominately be BPL farmers. Projects in risk-prone, underdeveloped, agriculturally distressed, remote, hilly and tribal areas are specially encouraged.
  • Grant support to the State Government institutions that promote agriculture/horticulture: Wherever state level institutions that work for promoting agriculture/horticulture/allied sectors require a one-time grant support for their functioning/strengthening, such support can be provided.
  • Study tours of farmers: Study tours of farmers to places of interest to them, especially to research institutions etc.
  • Organic and bio-fertilizers: Support for decentralized production at the village level and their marketing, etc. This will include vermicomposting and introduction of superior technologies for better production.
  • Innovative schemes: The above list is not exhaustive. Therefore, schemes that are important for agriculture, horticulture and allied sector development, but cannot be categorized under (a) to (p) can also be proposed, as innovative schemes.

Details

• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RAFTAAR) aims at making farming a remunerative economic activity by strengthening the farmers‟ efforts, risk mitigation and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.

Basic Features

• To incentivise the states so as to increase public investment in Agriculture and allied sectors.
• To provide flexibility and autonomy to states in the process of planning and executing Agriculture and allied sector schemes.
• To ensure the preparation of agriculture plans for the districts and the states based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources.
• To ensure that the local needs/crops/priorities are better reflected in the agricultural plans of the states.
• To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops, through focussed interventions.
• To maximize returns to the farmers in Agriculture and allied sectors.
• To bring about quantifiable changes in the production and productivity of various components of Agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them in a holistic manner

Funding Pattern

• North East State: 90% from the central government and 10% from the State government
• Union Territory (UT):  100% from the central government.
• All other states: 60% from the central government and 40% from the State government.

Source:

• https://rkvy.nic.in/
• https://nbhmnagaland.com/