Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

In 2007, the National Development Council, being concerned with the slow growth in the agriculture and allied sectors, launched the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. It is an umbrella scheme that ensures the complete development of agriculture and allied sectors/ services.

Earlier 100% of the funding under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was via Central Government Grant. However, from the year 2015-2016, the funding pattern is changed to 60% Central funds and 40% State funds.

Notably, later on, the Yojana was revamped as ‘Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation.

The present article briefly covers the objective; eligibility criteria; features; focus areas and allied sectors and the Innovation and Agri- entrepreneurship Development Programme under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.

Objective of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

The objectives of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are-

1. To provide funding to the State so that it can increase investment in Agriculture and allied sectors/ services.

2. To provide complete flexibility as well as autonomy to the states in planning and executing the agriculture programmes.

3. To maximize the returns to farmers.

4. To achieve the target of reducing the yield gaps between important crops.

5. To take up agriculture and allied sectors/ services in an integrated manner.

Eligibility criteria of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is a State plan scheme. Accordingly, the eligibility conditions applicable for the state depends upon the State maintaining/ increasing the State plan expenditure for Agricultural as well as Allied sectors.

Notably, the base line expense is to be determined on the basis of the average expense incurred by the State Government during the previous three years.

Features of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

Features of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are highlighted hereunder-

1. It is mandatory to prepare a ‘District Agricultural Plan’ as well as a ‘State Agricultural Plan’.

2. The funding pattern under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana is 100% Central Government Grant.

3. It comprehensively integrates agriculture as well as allied sectors.

4. It gives maximum flexibility to the states.

5. Projects having pre-defined time lines are highly encouraged in the Yojana.

6. Allocations are not automatic under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana as the same is an incentive scheme.

7. In case the State lowers the investment in later years and accordingly gets ineligible under the Yojana. Then, in such a case, the balance resources for completing the already commenced projects will have to be committed by State.

8. It also encourages merging with other scheme like NREGS.

Focus area and allied sectors covered under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

Following is the list of areas focused under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

• Agriculture Mechanisation;
• Integrated development of food crops; coarse cereals; pulses and minor millets pulses;
• Integrated pest management;
• Horticulture;
• Soil health and productivity;
• Sericulture;
• Development of rainfed farming systems;
• Promoting extension services;
• Organic and bio-fertilizers;
• Animal husbandry; fisheries and dairying;
• Innovative scheme;
• Study tours of farmers.

Following is the list of allied sectors covered under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana-

• Agricultural marketing;
• Agricultural Financial Institutions;
• Agricultural Research & Education;
• Crop husbandry;
• Soil & water conservation;
• Food storage and warehousing;
• Animal husbandry; fisheries and dairy development;
• Other agriculture programmes as well as cooperation.

Innovation and Agri- entrepreneurship development programme-

For promoting innovation and agripreneurship, the Innovation and Agri- entrepreneurship Development Programme, was launched under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The programme, basically, provided financial support and encouraged the incubation ecosystem.

Such start-ups are in various categories like agro-processing; digital agriculture; artificial intelligence; waste to wealth; farm mechanization; fisheries; dairy etc.

Benefits available under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana Scheme 

Particular	Benefits
Agripreneurship Orientation	Orientation of 2 months; The stipend of INR 10,000 per month; Orientation provides mentorship on technical; financial; IP etc.
Seed stage funding of R-ABI incubatees	Funding up to an amount of INR 25 Lakhs (wherein, 85% is a grant + 15% is a contribution from the incubatee).
Idea/ pre-seed stage funding of Agripreneurs	Funding up to an amount of INR 5 Lakhs (wherein, 90% is a grant + 10% is a contribution from the incubatee).