Cabinet approves ₹1,01,321.61 crore PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana for sustainable agriculture

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY) to promote sustainable agriculture and achieve food security. 

This initiative involves the rationalization of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare into two umbrella schemes, with a total proposed expenditure of ₹1,01,321.61 crore. 

The PM-RKVY aims to foster sustainable agricultural practices, while the KY focuses on food security and agricultural self-sufficiency. Both schemes will leverage technology for efficient implementation and are designed to be flexible, allowing states to reallocate funds between components based on their specific requirements. This rationalization ensures the continuation of existing schemes while allowing for a more targeted approach in addressing various areas of farmers’ welfare. 

Notably, certain components will be taken up in mission mode to provide additional support in critical areas, such as the National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), the Clean Plant Program, and Digital Agriculture. The Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) will also see modifications, including the introduction of the MOVCDNER-Detailed Project Report (DPR) component, which will provide more flexibility to North Eastern states in tackling pressing agricultural challenges.

The rationalization initiative allows states to develop a Comprehensive Strategic Document for their agriculture sector, addressing not only crop production and productivity but also emerging issues like climate-resilient agriculture and the development of value chains for agricultural commodities. This strategic document will guide the overall agricultural strategy and align with the objectives of the newly formed schemes. 

The main objectives of this rationalization include avoiding duplication, ensuring convergence of efforts, and allowing states the flexibility to create plans tailored to their agricultural needs. This comprehensive approach is expected to facilitate the approval of Annual Action Plans (AAPs) in a streamlined manner, rather than requiring individual approvals for each scheme.

The projected expenditure breakdown indicates that out of the total ₹1,01,321.61 crore, ₹69,088.98 crore will come from the central government, while states will contribute ₹32,232.63 crore. This allocation includes ₹57,074.72 crore for RKVY and ₹44,246.89 crore for KY. 

The PM-RKVY will encompass various initiatives such as Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agro-Forestry,  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, the Agricultural Mechanization program, Per Drop More Crop, Crop Diversification Programme, and Accelerator Fund for Agri Startups, among others.