RASHTRIYA KRISHI VIKAS YOJANA(RKVY)

INTRODUCTION

   Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme for ensuring holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors by allowing states to choose their own agriculture and allied sector development activities as per the district/state agriculture plan.

   Till 2013-14, the scheme was implemented as an Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to State Plan Scheme with 100% central assistance. It was converted into a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2014-15 also with 100% central assistance. Since 2015-16, the funding pattern of the scheme has been altered in the ratio of 60:40 between Centre and States (90:10 for North Eastern States and Himalayan States). For Union Territories the funding pattern is 100 % central grant.

   Based on feedback received from States, experiences garnered during implementation in the 12th Plan and inputs provided by stakeholders, RKVY guidelines have been revamped as RKVY – RAFTAAR - Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation to enhance efficiency, efficacy and inclusiveness of the programme.

Objectives of RKVY-RAFTAAR

   RKVY-RAFTAAR aims at making farming a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmers effort, risk mitigation and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.

   The main objectives of the scheme are-

1.   To strengthen the farmers efforts through creation of required pre and post-harvest agri-infrastructure that increases access to quality inputs, storage, market facilities etc. and enables farmers to make informed choices.
2.   To provide autonomy, flexibility to States to plan and execute schemes as per local/ farmers needs.
3.   To promote value chain addition linked production models that will help farmers increase their income as well as encourage production/productivity
4.   To mitigate risk of farmers with focus on additional income generation activities - like integrated farming, mushroom cultivation, bee keeping, aromatic plant cultivation, floriculture etc.
5.   To attend national priorities through several sub-schemes.
6.   To empower youth through skill development, innovation and agri-entrepreneurship based agribusiness models that attract them to agriculture.

Programme Components (Streams):

RKVY-RAFTAAR funds would be provided to the States as grant by the Central Government in the following streams.

A. Regular RKVY-RAFTAAR -70% of annual outlay will be allocated among States as per criteria under following heads.

1.   Infrastructure and assets- 50% (of 70%) of regular RKVY-RAFTAAR outlay- pre-harvest infrastructure- 20%, post-harvest infrastructure- 30%
2.   Value addition linked production projects (agribusiness models) that provide assured/ additional income to farmers including Public Private Partnership for Integrated Agriculture Development (PPPIAD) projects - 30% (of 70%) of regular RKVY outlay.
3.   Flexi funds - 20% (of 70%) of regular RKVY-RAFTAAR outlay. States can use this fund for supporting any projects as per their local needs preferably for innovative activities in agriculture and allied sectors.

B. RKVY-RAFTAAR special sub-schemes – 20% of total annual outlay - based on national priorities as notified by Govt. of India from time to time for development of region and problem specific areas.

C. Innovation and agri-entrepreneur development - 10% of annual outlay - for encouraging innovation and agri-entrepreneurs through skill development and financial support. It will support incubatees, incubation centers, KVKs, awards etc. These funds will be with Central Govt. (DAC&FW) including 2% of administrative costs at the Centre. In case the funds are not utilized, they will be diverted to regular RKVY and sub-schemes.

   Activities/components proposed under RKVY-RAFTAAR especially under Infrastructure & Assets stream are generally covered under various ongoing schemes / programmes of Central Government viz. Deptt. of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Deptt. of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Deptt. of Land Resources, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, Ministry of Rural Development etc. Technical requirements / standards and financial norms (cost norms and pattern of assistance) etc. for these activities/components that have been specified in various schemes/programmes will also be applicable for RKVY-RAFTAAR. In the absence of such criterion in respect of any component in Central Plan Scheme, norms and conditions prescribed by respective State Governments for their schemes may be applied. In cases where no Central / State Govt. norms are available, a certificate of reasonableness of the proposed project cost along with reasons thereof will invariably be given by State Level Project Screening Committee (SLPSC) in each such case. For infrastructure and assets projects, 100% assistance is provided if these are in public sector as also in the PPP mode. Otherwise for private sector infrastructure projects, the assistance is 50%. For production oriented components (either under value addition linked production or flexi funds), the assistance will continue to be 25% of the project cost under RKVY-RAFTAAR.