INTRODUCTION
As the name of scheme implies that it is a scheme for enhancing and promoting agricultural activities in our country. For ensuring holistic development of agriculture as well as allied sectors, The Government launched Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna(RKVY) in 2007.Because of slow growth in agriculture and its allied sectors, the National Development Council(NDC) consequently resolved in its meeting held on 29th May 2007 that a special Additional Central Assistance Scheme has to be launched. NDC clarified that this scheme must meet the needs of farmers and called upon State and Central Government to frame a strategy to altogether rejuvenate agriculture. The NDC reaffirmed its commitment to achieve 4 percent annual growth in the agricultural sector during 11th plan. The Department of agriculture in consultation with the planning commission, has prepared the guidelines for the RKVY scheme, to be specifically known as National Agriculture Development Programme(RKVY).
OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME:-
Following are the main objective of the scheme:-
1.The main objective of the scheme is to develop agriculture as the main source of economy.
2.To strengthen farmers effort by effectively creating required pre and post harvest agri-infrastructure. In this way scheme helps farmers to improve their overall lifestyle by providing new tools and equipment to grow more foods.
3. To incentivize the states that increase their investments in agriculture and allied services.
4.To significantly maximize return to farmers in agriculture and allied sectors.
5.To facilitate states with autonomy as well as flexibility in executing and planning various programmes for agriculture.
- To collaboratively address agriculture and allied sectors for further possible improvements.
7.To ensure that the local needs/ priorities /crops are particularly taken care in the agriculture plan of respective states.
FEATURE OF THE SCHEME:-
1.The scheme incentivize states to increase public investment in Agriculture & Allied sectors.
2.The Cabinet approved the continuation of ongoing centrally sponsored Scheme (State Plans) on 1st Nov 2017 as Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna – Remunerative Approach for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation(RKVY-RAFTAAR) for 3 years ie. 2017-18 to 2019-20.
3.It is a state plan scheme. It means particularly states are responsible for planning and executing the scheme. The pattern of funding is 100% Central Government Grant.
4.The eligibility criteria for the state is the average expenditure by the state on agriculture and allied sectors.
5.The baseline expenditure is determined on the basis of the average expenditure by the state during the three years prior to the previous year.
6.It is mandatory to have both District agricultural plan and state agricultural plan.
7.This is an incentive scheme and allocations are not automatic.It gives maximum flexibility to states.
8.It integrates Agriculture and allied services extensively. It covers wide range of activities:
Crop production, Animal husbandry, Horticulture, Fisheries ,Agro Processing
It ensures holistic development of the agricultural sector.
9.RKVY encourages consolidation with other Government schemes like MGNREGA.
You may read about MGNREGA by clicking on this link:
https://blessedimran.com/mgnrega/
This helps to maximize the impact of the scheme.
- The Government encourages states to explore convergence with other schemes.
11.The states are bound to complete the projects that have been initiated and approved. Even if the projects goes out of RKVY scope because of fund scarcity , it has to be completed.
BENEFITS PROVIDED UNDER THE SCHEME:-
1.Agripreneurship Orientation:- Government provides an awareness program of 2 months with a stipend of Rs 10000 per month to eligible candidates.The orientation provides hands on mentorship on various financial, technicial and other subjects.
2.Idea/Pre-seed storage Funding of Agripreneurs: Funding up to 5 Lakhs (90% is a grant and 10% is incubate contribution). Government has implemented RKVY-RAFTAAR as a centrally Sponsored Scheme in the ratio 60:40 i.e. Central Government and state Government respectively. This distribution is different for northeastern and hilly states where the sharing ratio is 90:10. For Union Territory the grant is 100% centrally sponsored.
3.Seed Storage Funding of R-ABI Incubatees: Funding up to 25Lakh (85% is a grant and 15% incubate contribution). Government gives this funding to all incubatees of R-ABI. These incubates must be Indian startups and must be legally registered in India with a minimum two months’ residency at R-ABI. The R-ABI stands for RAFTAAR Agri Business Incubator.
FUNDING PATTERN:-
1.North east statas: 90% from central Government and 10% from state government.
2.Union territory(UT): 100% from central Government.
3.All other states: 60% from central government and 40% from the state government.
IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF RKVY SCHEME:-
The major components of RKVY scheme are:
CROP PRODUCTION
This component facilitates financial aid to farmers to adopt new technologies and improved and modern system of agriculture such as high yielding variety of seeds, Precision farming & Integrated pest management.
ANIMAL HUSBANDARY
This component basically facilitates financial aid to farmers to enhance the productivity of their livestock. This includes overall support for arranging fodder, purchase of improved breeds of animals and setting up of veterinary clinics.
HORTICULTURE
This component facilitates financial aid to farmers to develop and increase horticulture crops. This includes support for the overall development of irrigation facilities, the marketing of horticulture products & also establishment of nurseries.
FISHERIES
This component facilitates financial help to fishermen to enhance their overall productivity and income. This includes support for purchase of fishing boats and equipment , development of aquaculture and marketing of fish products.
AGRO PROCESSING
This component facilitates financial aid to farmers and entrepreneurs to grow and organize agro-processing units. This helps to create jobs in the agricultural sector and add value to agricultural products.
RKVY- 11th Five Year Plan(2007-2012):-
During the 11th plan National development council(NDC) targeted 4% annual growth in agriculture and allied sectors. The actual growth was 3.64% annually during the 11th plan as against 2.46% per annum in the 10th plan.
During the 11th plan of NDC, Different states took 5768 projects and completed 3228projects. The remarkable growth noticed in 11th plan in the areas like Horticulture, Agricultura mechanism,Marketing and post-harvest management, Crop development, Animal husbandary, Fisheries etc.
RKVY-12th Five year Plan (2012 to 2016-2017):-
During 12th planthe annual expenditure for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna was about 63246 crores.
Following is the disbusrsement pattern:
35% annual expenditure for production growth projects in agriculture and allied sectors
35% annual expenditure for bridging the gaps in agricultural infrastructure and assets
20% annual expenditure for funds focused on national priorities
10% annual expenditure as RKVY Flexi funds for specific needs/priorities in states .
RAFTAAR-RKVY 13th Three Year Plan (2017-18 to 2019-20):-
Government of India made amendment in RKVY to make farming as a remunerative profession.During 13th Plan Government rebranded RKVY as RKVY-Remunarative Approaches for agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation(RAFTAAR).
Objective of RAFTAAR: –
Risk mitigation and contingency planning
Strengthening farmer’s effort
Promoting agribusiness entrepreneurship.
Introducing technological aids in agriculture.
COMPONENTS OF RKVY:-
1.Infrastructure development: The scheme invests in constructing things like irrigation system, market yards and storage wards. This ensures that farmers can have sufficient water, access markets and can store their crop properly.
2.Crop Diversification: As a part of risk mitigation, RKVY encourages farmers to grow different types of crops. By avoiding to grow only one kind of crop RKVY helps reduce the risk and make farming more flexible.
3.Research and Development: RKVY encourages the emergence of better crops and cfarming methods through research. This ensures that farmers stay updated about new technology and can handle new threats.
4.Capacity building and training: Farmers are trained on new ways of farming. This includes using modern techniques and technology, helping them become more knowledgeable and skilled.
5.Support for Organic farming:The scheme encourages organic farming and motivate farmers to use ecofriendly methods and minimize the use of chemicals.This is good for nature and opens up new markets for organic products.
CHALLENGES & WAY FORWARDS: –
Following are the Challenges:-
1.Implementation issues: Various states find it difficult to implement RKVY which ultimately leads to uneven benefits to farmers.
2.Climate change: Changing weather at various location pose a challenge to agriculture and hence it needs continuous adaptation strategies.
3.Lack of awareness: Many farmers are not aware about the RKVY and as a result they don’t know how to tap the benefits out of it.
4.Access to technology: Farmers, particularly in remote areas face challenge to access and adopt modern farming technologies.
Correspondingly Way Forward:
1.Capacity building: Scheme should put extra efforts to upgrade the skills of farmers through training programs.
2.Awareness campaign: To educate farmers about RKVY and its benefits, as a matter of fact awareness campaign should be initiated.
3.Technology Outreach: Scheme should altogether ensure that technology reaches to farmers in remote places so that maximum benefits may be availed from the scheme.
4.Climate adaptable practices: Introducing and encouraging farming practices that are comparatively flexible to climate changes.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR RASHTRIYA KRISHI VIKAS YOJNA:-
Following are the eligibility criteria for Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna(RKVY): –
The scheme is implemented through state Government. The eligibility criteria changes from state to state. Though some of the general eligibility criteria are: –
-The person must be Resident of India.
-The person must have reasonable and legal farmland records.
-The profession of person must be farming.
The scheme is open to all farmers irrespective of size of their land.
The scxheme is for all residents of rural areas whose main profession is farming.
CONCLUSION:
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna is ray of hope for Indian agriculture. It reflects a holistic development of agriculture as well as allied sectors under challenging environment. Though there are so many challenges in the way but moving forward , a focused effort on overcoming these hurdles will be vital.By addressing the challenges and working on its solutions, RKVY can move forward successfully and can achive its targets.RKVY finally ensures a inclusive and sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
