RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana): Complete Guide

Table of Content:

• What is Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Scheme?
• Important Objectives of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme
• Key Features of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme 
• Benefits of The RKVY Scheme for Farmers
• How RKVY Work: The Government Process Point
• Eligibility criteria for RKVY Raftaar scheme
• Documents Required for Farmers Under RKVY Raftaar Scheme

What is Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Scheme?

The full form of RKVY agriculture is Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and it was launched during 2007-08. This is a Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Government of India. There is a specific amount of grant that is released by the center for the states, so that the states can spend more on agriculture and allied sectors. From the year 2015-16, the funding pattern of this scheme is 60:40 between center and states.

The RKVY has been now continued as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) since 2017-18. The objective of the board is to make farming a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmers’ efforts, risk mitigation, and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.

Important Objectives of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme

The main aim of this PMRKVY is to give freedom and flexibility to run projects based on local and farmer needs. This helps with increasing productivity and makes faring a remunerative activity. The scheme also supports startups in the agriculture and allied sectors, raising farmers’ income, and creating job opportunities for youth. Under this RKVY Raftaar scheme, the goal stands with strengthening the farmers’ efforts by reducing risk and promoting agri-business entrepreneurship.

Each of these components listed below has its own objectives:

• Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) to increase micro irrigation and save water.
• Farm mechanization is to take machines to small and marginal farmers and promote custom hiring of machines under the (SMAM) Sub Mission on Agricultural Mechanization.
• Initiate crop residue management to stop air pollution and nutrient loss caused by burning crop residue.
• Learning about soil health and fertility to teach farmers Soil Health Cards and strengthen soil testing labs.
• Promoting organic, low-cost, chemical-free farming.
• Rainfed area development makes dry-land farming more productive and climate resilient.
• Agro Forestry helps grow trees along with crops for extra income and make quality planting material available.
• Crop diversification to move farmers away from paddy to other crops.

Key Features of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana scheme 

Here are the RKVY scheme details that matter most:

The main components of PMRKVY have three parts a DPR (Detailed Project Report) component, an Annual Action Plan (AAP) component and a Start-up & Accelerator Fund.

At most 30% of the outlay goes to the DPR component, including administrative charges and the startup component.

70% goes to the AAP component, which covers the seven merged schemes. For Northeastern and Himalayan States and UTs, the DPR ceiling is 50%.

The States must submit 100% utilization certificates of earlier funds and progress reports. If the state is unable to utilize all its funds, the balance should be given to better performing states.

Benefits of The RKVY Scheme for Farmers

These are the benefits farmers get through following this scheme:

• Micro Irrigation (drip and sprinkler), assistance is given to 55% of subsidies for small and marginal farmers and 45% for other farmers and up to 5 hectares of land coverage per beneficiary. The fund is transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer.
• Assistance in 50% of cost of farm machinery for small and marginal farmers. The group also consist of SC/ST farmers, and farmers from Northeastern and Himalayan regions.
• Farmers are provided with Soil health cards to show soil nutrient status and give fertilizer advice.
• Farmers practicing organic farming can get an incentive of Rs 15,000 per hectare over three years through DBT.
• Selected farmers growing alternative crops for eg, cereal, pulses, oil seeds from the states of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh get Rs 10,000 per hectare for crop diversification, land development, and marketing support.
• The scheme also looks for weaker sections, like the Forest Rights Act; patta holders pay only a 10% beneficiary share in every component.

How RKVY Work: The Government Process Point

The process point of this RKVY scheme starts through the state:

• The Centre communicates each state’s allocation by the end of the financial year around to identify priority sectors and projects.
• The Agriculture Department of Every State prepares a culminative Annual Action Plan (AAP/DPR). These must include timeline, justification, expected outcomes, and cost norms.
• A State Level Sanctioning Committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, reviews it and then it gets submitted.
• The Project Approval Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary, is presented with the plans, DA & FW, in January-February. Later, the approval is granted, and the funds are released, and the implementing agencies carry out the background work.
• Once the states can submit 100% utilization certificates, the funds are released earlier, with physical and financial progress tracked.
•  Then the state runs the schemes through its agriculture department, district offices and state portal.

Eligibility criteria for RKVY Raftaar Scheme

The RKVY Raftaar scheme is now a part of PM-RKVY. As this is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, all States & UTs will be eligible for funding.

• All the incubates of an R-ABI are eligible for this funding system, as the RIC evaluates their consistent performance.
• The recipient should be a registered under legal entity in India with a minimum of two months of residency at the R-ABI through programs.
• As per the recent DIPPT notification, the recipient should be an Indian start-up. This support scheme is not meant for Indian Subsidiaries of foreign/ MNC’s companies.
• Once a start-up is supported, it will not be supported for applying the subsequent round of seed support to any R-ABIs.

How to Apply for RKVY Scheme?

Stepwise description for Farmers to apply for PDMC (Per Drop More Crop) scheme under RKVY.

Step 1: The farmers that are based on the requirement of their field & region, can contact their regional Block/District Agriculture Office through their respective Gram Panchayat.

Step 2: They may also approach the authorities concerned and collect or request of an application form for the scheme. 

Step 3: Fill in all the mandatory fields in the application form and paste the passport-sized photograph and attach all the required documents. 

Step 4: Submit all the filled and signed application form along with the documents to the designated authority. 

Step 5: Get the receipt after the submission of the application form from the receiving authority. 

Documents Required for Farmers Under RKVY Raftaar Scheme

These are few of documents required if you enroll under Sub-mission On Agriculture Mechanization Scheme under RKVY:

• Aadhar card for the identification of the beneficiary.
• Passport size photo of the applicant.
• ROR (Record of Right) of land to upload while filling out the land details.
• Copy of the first page of the bank passbook where the beneficiary details are mentioned.
• Copy of the Caste Category Certificate in case of SC/ST/OBC.
• Be careful while filling in the information; false information may decline the benefits.

Note: While registering in the DBT portal, farmers should select the correct District, Sub-District, Block and Village from the drop-down list. The name of the farmer should be as per the Aadhar card. Categories like farmer category (SC/ST/General), farmer type (Small/Marginal/Large) and Gender (Male/Female) should be correctly filled. Otherwise, the application may be debarred at the time of physical verification.