Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a scheme launched by the Central Government of India in 2007-08 with the core objective of providing financial assistance to states for promoting holistic growth in agriculture and allied sectors. The scheme focuses on increasing public investment in agriculture and allied sectors promoting private sector participation and ensuring that the benefits of agricultural growth reach farmers and other stakeholders. Through the RKVY, the Central Government aims to encourage sustainable development in the agricultural sector and promote the overall growth of India’s rural economy.

Scheme Overview

• Scheme launched: 2007
• Scheme Fund Allocated: Varies based on the state government’s proposals and approval from the Central Government
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
• Type of Government Scheme: Centrally sponsored by the Government of India (from 2014-15)

Objectives

• Encouraging states to increase their investments in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Providing states with greater flexibility and autonomy in designing and implementing agricultural programs.
• Ensuring the preparation of agriculture plans at the district and state levels.
• Aiming to reduce yield gaps in key crops to achieve sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
•  Maximizing the income of farmers and ensuring their welfare.
• Taking an integrated approach to address the needs of agriculture and allied sectors.

Key Features of RKVY

Sub-schemes of RKVY

• Pilot interventions in the districts most vulnerable to drought.
• Expanding the cultivation of cashew nuts to new areas.
• Extending the benefits of the Green Revolution to Eastern India.
• Implementing a program to diversify crops and increase agricultural productivity.
• Developing additional fodder for livestock to support the agricultural sector.
• Offering special incentives for the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds in dry land areas across 60,000 villages.
• Promoting the integrated development of 60,000 rainfed villages focused on pulses.
• Supporting the National Saffron Mission aimed at boosting saffron production in India.

Benefits of RKVY

• Encourages investment in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Promotes sustainable development in the agricultural sector.
• Ensures the benefits of agricultural growth reach farmers and other stakeholders.
• Encourages private sector participation.

 Drawback of RKVY

• The scheme may not be useful for small-scale farmers who lack access to the information and resources required to avail of the benefits of the scheme.
• The implementation of the scheme relies on the efficiency and effectiveness of state governments in utilizing the funds and implementing the proposed projects, which may not always be successful.
• There may be a lack of proper monitoring and evaluation of the scheme’s impact on the ground, leading to inefficiencies and corruption.
• The scheme’s focus on promoting private sector participation may lead to the increased commercialization of agriculture, which may not always benefit small and marginal farmers.
• There may be a lack of coordination between different government departments and agencies involved in the implementation of the scheme, leading to a fragmented approach and suboptimal outcomes.

How to implement?

1. Identification of Priority Areas: The central and state governments identify the priority areas and crops to be covered under the scheme based on various factors such as regional disparities, cropping patterns, and agro-climatic conditions.
2. Preparation of District and State Agriculture Plans: District and state-level agriculture plans are prepared with the involvement of farmers, agricultural scientists and other stakeholders. These plans outline the activities to be undertaken under the scheme, along with the estimated cost and expected outcomes.
3. Allocation of Funds: Once the plans are finalized, funds are allocated to the states based on the proposed activities and outcomes.
4. Implementation of Activities: States implement the planned activities such as setting up seed infrastructure, promoting organic farming, developing value chains and providing market linkages to farmers. They may also undertake other activities such as improving irrigation facilities, soil health management, and land development.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Regular monitoring and evaluation are carried out to ensure that the activities are implemented as planned and achieve the expected outcomes. Feedback is also collected from farmers and other stakeholders to improve the effectiveness of the scheme.
6. Reporting and Review: States submit periodic progress reports to the central government, which reviews the progress made and provides feedback for further improvement.

Conclusion 

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is an important initiative by the Central Government of India aimed at promoting agricultural growth and development. The scheme’s focus on encouraging state governments to increase their investment in agriculture and allied sectors, promoting private sector investment, and ensuring that the benefits of agricultural growth reach farmers and other stakeholders makes it an important program for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector in India.