Govt approves 2 agri schemes with outlay of ₹1 lakh crore

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the rationalisation of various agri schemes into two umbrella programmes, PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Krishonnati Yojana, with an expenditure of over ₹1 lakh crore to promote sustainable agriculture and ensure food security.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the proposal, for rationalisation of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) operating under the Ministry of Agriculture into two-umbrella schemes, Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY)," an official statement said.

The PM-RKVY scheme will promote sustainable agriculture, while the KY will address food security & agricultural self-sufficiency.

The two umbrella schemes, PM-RKVY and KY, will be implemented "with a total proposed expenditure of ₹1,01,321.61 crore".

"This decision reflects the government's priority towards agriculture and farmers," Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on social media platform X.

Of the total proposed outlay, the projected expenditure towards the central share of the Department of Agriculture is ₹69,088.98 crore and the state's share is ₹32,232.63 crore, the statement said.

"This includes ₹57,074.72 crore for RKVY and ₹44,246.89 crore for KY."

As many as 18 schemes have been included in these two umbrella schemes. These schemes are implemented through the state governments.

"This exercise ensures that all the existing schemes are being continued.

"Wherever it was considered necessary to give fillip to any area for farmer's welfare, the scheme has been taken up in mission mode, for example, National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm [NMEO-OP], Clean Plant Program, Digital Agriculture & National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Seeds [NMEO-OS]," the statement said.

The scheme 'Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region' (MOVCDNER), a component under the KY, is being modified by adding an additional component namely MOVCDNER-Detailed Project Report (MOVCDNER-DPR), which will provide flexibility to the Northeastern states to address critical challenges.

"By rationalization of the schemes, the States are given an opportunity to prepare a comprehensive strategic document on the agriculture sector of the State in a holistic manner," the government said.

The strategic document focuses not only on the production and productivity of the crops but also tackles the emerging issues of climate-resilient agriculture and the development of value chain approaches for agricultural commodities.

These plans are envisaged to articulate the overall strategy and the schemes/programmes, linked with the objectives flowing from the strategic framework.

Elaborating further, the government said the rationalisation of various schemes has been undertaken to avoid duplication, ensure convergence and provide flexibility to States.

This exercise will also help in focusing on emergent challenges of agriculture: nutrition security, sustainability, climate resilience, value chain development and private sector participation.

State governments will be able to draw a comprehensive strategic plan suiting their requirements for the agriculture sector.

"Annual Action Plan (AAP) of states can be approved in one go rather than approving individual scheme-wise AAPs," it said, explaining the benefits of this rationalisation.

In PM-RKVY, the state governments would be given the flexibility to reallocate funds from one component to another based on their state-specific requirements.

The PM-RKVY comprises the following schemes: Soil Health Management; Rainfed Area Development; AgroForestry; Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana; Agricultural Mechanization, including Crop Residue Management; Per Drop More Crop; Crop Diversification Programme; RKVY DPR component; and Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups.