Central Government Scheme : Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

 Central Government Scheme : Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) 

Introduction :

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is a scheme implemented by the Government of India to promote the development of agriculture and allied sectors in the country. It was launched in 2007-08 and is one of the flagship programs under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.

The primary objective of RKVY is to achieve faster and sustainable growth in agriculture and enhance the income of farmers. It aims to strengthen the agricultural infrastructure, increase productivity, and improve the overall competitiveness of the agricultural sector. The scheme focuses on ensuring holistic development by addressing all aspects of agriculture, including crop production, animal husbandry, fisheries, and horticulture.

Main Features of RKVY Scheme :

The main features of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme are as follows:

Flexibility in fund utilization: States and Union Territories have the flexibility to utilize funds as per their specific agricultural needs and priorities. This allows for customization and adaptation of the scheme to the local context.

Decentralized planning: The scheme emphasizes decentralized planning, with each state and district formulating their agriculture development plans. This approach ensures that the plans are tailored to local conditions and requirements.

Grant-in-aid: Financial assistance is provided to the states in the form of grant-in-aid. The funds are used to support various activities under the scheme, including infrastructure development, capacity building, research and development, and technology transfer.

Focus on innovation and research: RKVY promotes the adoption of innovative technologies and practices in agriculture. It supports research and development projects, technology transfer, and capacity building of farmers to enhance productivity and sustainability.

Strengthening of value chains: The scheme aims to strengthen agricultural value chains by improving post-harvest infrastructure, storage facilities, processing units, and marketing networks. This helps farmers get better prices for their produce and reduces post-harvest losses.

Promoting agribusiness and market linkages: RKVY supports initiatives to promote agribusiness and facilitate better market linkages for farmers. It encourages the establishment of farmer-producer organizations, market intelligence systems, and marketing infrastructure to improve farmers' access to markets and enhance their incomes.

Sustainability and natural resource management: The scheme encourages sustainable agriculture practices, conservation of water resources, soil health management, and the adoption of organic farming. It promotes the efficient use of inputs, water conservation techniques, and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Capacity building and training: RKVY emphasizes the training and capacity building of farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders. It conducts training programs, workshops, and demonstrations to enhance the knowledge and skills of farmers in modern agricultural practices.

Monitoring and evaluation: The scheme includes a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the progress and impact of the implemented activities. Regular monitoring helps in identifying gaps, addressing challenges, and ensuring effective implementation of the scheme.

Collaborative approach: RKVY promotes a collaborative approach by involving multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, agricultural universities, non-governmental organizations, and farmers' groups. This multi-stakeholder engagement ensures synergy and effective implementation of the scheme.

These features collectively contribute to the holistic development of the agricultural sector, enhance farmers' income, and promote sustainable agriculture practices in India.

Benefits of RKVY Scheme:

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme provides several benefits to the agricultural sector and farmers in India. Some of the key benefits of the RKVY scheme are as follows:

Enhanced agricultural productivity: The scheme focuses on promoting innovative agricultural practices, adoption of modern technologies, and improved farm management techniques. This leads to increased agricultural productivity and helps farmers achieve higher yields.

Diversification of agricultural activities: RKVY encourages farmers to diversify their agricultural activities by promoting allied sectors such as horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and agroforestry. This diversification helps in reducing risks and increasing farmers' income.

Improved infrastructure and post-harvest management: The scheme supports the development of agricultural infrastructure, including post-harvest storage facilities, cold chains, processing units, and market linkages. This improves the quality of produce, reduces post-harvest losses, and increases farmers' income by enabling them to access better markets.

Capacity building and skill development: RKVY emphasizes the training and capacity building of farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders. This equips them with knowledge about modern agricultural practices, innovative techniques, and new technologies, enabling them to enhance their skills and productivity.

Encouragement of sustainable practices: The scheme promotes sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming, conservation of water resources, and soil health management. These practices help in preserving natural resources, reducing environmental degradation, and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.

Income augmentation and livelihood improvement: Through the adoption of improved practices, diversification, and value chain development, RKVY aims to increase farmers' income and improve their livelihoods. By providing better market linkages and access to value-added activities, the scheme enhances farmers' earning potential.

Research and development support: RKVY facilitates research and development activities in the agricultural sector. It promotes collaboration between research institutions, agricultural universities, and farmers, leading to the development and dissemination of new technologies and best practices that benefit farmers.

Flexibility and customization: The scheme provides flexibility to states and Union Territories in utilizing funds as per their specific agricultural needs and priorities. This allows for customization and adaptation of the scheme to local conditions and requirements, making it more effective in addressing specific challenges.

Employment generation: The RKVY scheme contributes to employment generation in rural areas through the development of agricultural infrastructure, agro-based industries, and value chains. It creates opportunities for farm and non-farm employment, thereby improving livelihoods and reducing rural-urban migration.

Food security and self-sufficiency: By enhancing agricultural productivity, diversification, and sustainability, RKVY contributes to improving food security in the country. It helps in increasing the availability of food crops, reducing dependency on imports, and making India self-sufficient in food production.

Finance and Subsidy :

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme is a centrally sponsored scheme, with both the central government and state governments providing financial assistance for its implementation. The financing and subsidy of the RKVY scheme are structured as follows:

Central Government's Contribution: The central government provides a significant portion of the funds for the RKVY scheme. The exact amount allocated by the central government varies from year to year and depends on the overall budgetary allocations and priorities.

State Government's Contribution: The state governments are required to contribute a certain percentage of the total project cost. The contribution by each state is determined based on a cost-sharing pattern, which may vary from state to state. The state governments also mobilize additional resources to support the implementation of the scheme.

Grant-in-Aid: The financial assistance provided by the central government to the states under the RKVY scheme is in the form of grant-in-aid. This means that the funds do not need to be repaid by the states. The grant-in-aid is utilized by the states to implement various activities and projects identified under the scheme.

Subsidies for Specific Components: The RKVY scheme may also provide subsidies for specific components or activities. These subsidies are aimed at promoting specific interventions or technologies that benefit farmers. For example, subsidies may be provided for the purchase of agricultural machinery, inputs, or for the adoption of certain agricultural practices.

State Annual Action Plan (SAAP): Each state prepares an Annual Action Plan (AAP) under the RKVY scheme, outlining the proposed activities and projects to be implemented. The AAP includes a detailed financial plan, including the allocation of funds from both the central and state governments, as well as any subsidies or incentives provided.

Monitoring and Audit: The implementation of the RKVY scheme is subject to monitoring and audit to ensure transparency and accountability. Regular monitoring is conducted to assess the progress of activities, utilization of funds, and achievement of targets.

Benefits to Farmers:

The Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) scheme provides several benefits to farmers in India. Some of the key benefits for farmers under the RKVY scheme are as follows:

Enhanced agricultural productivity: The RKVY scheme promotes the adoption of innovative agricultural practices, modern technologies, and improved farm management techniques. This leads to increased agricultural productivity, enabling farmers to achieve higher yields and better crop quality.

Diversification and income augmentation: The scheme encourages farmers to diversify their agricultural activities by promoting allied sectors such as horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and agroforestry. Diversification reduces risks and provides additional sources of income for farmers, thereby enhancing their livelihoods.

Infrastructure development and post-harvest management: RKVY supports the development of agricultural infrastructure, including post-harvest storage facilities, cold chains, processing units, and market linkages. This improves the storage and marketing of agricultural produce, reduces post-harvest losses, and helps farmers get better prices for their produce.

Capacity building and training: The scheme emphasizes the training and capacity building of farmers, extension workers, and other stakeholders. Farmers receive training on modern agricultural practices, new technologies, improved farming techniques, and business management. This equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance their productivity, adopt best practices, and improve their farm management.

Access to credit and financial support: RKVY facilitates access to credit and financial support for farmers. It promotes the availability of institutional credit, subsidies, and financial assistance for the purchase of inputs, machinery, and infrastructure development. This helps farmers overcome financial constraints and invest in their agricultural activities.

Market linkages and value addition: The scheme focuses on promoting agribusiness and market linkages for farmers. It supports the establishment of farmer-producer organizations, marketing infrastructure, and value addition activities. This enables farmers to access better markets, obtain fair prices for their produce, and engage in value-added activities, leading to increased income.

Sustainable agricultural practices: RKVY encourages the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices, such as organic farming, conservation of water resources, and soil health management. By promoting sustainable practices, the scheme helps farmers conserve natural resources, reduce input costs, and improve the long-term viability of their farming systems.

Research and development support: The scheme facilitates research and development activities in agriculture. It promotes collaboration between research institutions, agricultural universities, and farmers, leading to the development and dissemination of new technologies, improved crop varieties, and best practices. Farmers benefit from the adoption of research-backed innovations that enhance productivity and profitability.

Employment generation: The RKVY scheme contributes to employment generation in rural areas. Through the development of agricultural infrastructure, agro-based industries, and value chains, it creates job opportunities for farmers and rural youth, thereby improving livelihoods and reducing rural-urban migration.

Food security and self-sufficiency: By enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting diversified farming, RKVY contributes to improving food security in the country. It helps increase the availability of food crops, reduce dependency on imports, and make India more self-sufficient in food production.

These benefits collectively contribute to the overall well-being of farmers, enhancing their income, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.