Union Cabinet Approves Two Umbrella Schemes for Agriculture

The Union Cabinet, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved an important change in how agricultural schemes are managed in India. This change aims to simplify the existing Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) by combining them into two main umbrella programs:

Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY)

Krishonnati Yojana (KY)

What are these schemes?

PM-RKVY focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture. It provides states with flexibility, allowing them to choose solutions based on their needs, like a “cafeteria” style approach.

Krishonnati Yojana (KY) is aimed at achieving food security and helping India become self-sufficient in agriculture.

Together, these schemes are expected to be implemented with a total budget of ₹1,01,321.61 crore.

How will the schemes be implemented?

The schemes will be carried out in partnership with State Governments. While they will build on existing programs, new elements will be added to make things more efficient, especially through the use of technology.

Key Components and Special Missions

Some important missions under these schemes include:

National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP): To boost domestic production of edible oils.

Clean Plant Program: Focuses on ensuring disease-free plants for farmers.

Digital Agriculture: Promotes the use of technology to make farming more efficient.

Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER): Aims to develop organic farming in the Northeast and includes new features to provide more flexibility for this region.

Strategic Planning by States

Each state will be encouraged to prepare a Comprehensive Strategic Document for their agriculture sector. This document should cover:

Crop production and productivity (increasing the amount of crops grown)

Climate-resilient agriculture (farming that can handle changes in the climate)

Value chains for agricultural goods (how to get products from farms to markets more efficiently)

Why are these changes important?

The restructuring of these schemes aims to:

Avoid duplication, meaning that efforts won’t be wasted on overlapping programs.

Bring together resources to address key challenges, such as ensuring people have enough nutritious food and improving farming sustainability.

Encourage states to make detailed agricultural plans that fit their specific needs.

Simplify the process of approving state Annual Action Plans (AAP) by merging many small schemes into these larger ones.

Financial Overview

The total budget of ₹1,01,321.61 crore will be divided into:

Central Government share: ₹69,088.98 crore

State Government share: ₹32,232.63 crore

Out of this, specific amounts are allocated for each scheme:

₹57,074.72 crore for PM-RKVY

₹44,246.89 crore for Krishonnati Yojana

This restructuring is a strategic move by the government to improve agricultural productivity, ensure food security, and promote sustainability. By streamlining these programs, the government aims to make farming more efficient, better support farmers, and ensure India is prepared to meet future agricultural challenges.

About PM-RKVY

Launched in 2007, PM-RKVY is designed to improve farmers’ income and promote agricultural growth. It gives states the flexibility to prioritize local needs and supports activities such as infrastructure development, technology transfer, and skill development. The scheme also emphasizes sustainable farming practices and provides financial help to states for their projects.

About Krishonnati Yojana

Introduced in 2016, Krishonnati Yojana focuses on improving productivity, sustainability, and farmers’ income. It integrates modern farming techniques and promotes organic farming. It also focuses on skill development, crop diversification, and improving agricultural infrastructure to help farmers get better access to markets and increase their earnings.