Cabinet rationalizes all farm sector schemes under 2 umbrella schemes with Rs 1.01 lakh cr investment

Cabinet approves 2 agriculture sector schemes with total investment of Rs 1.01 lakh crore

The Union Cabinet on October 3 approved a proposal to rationalize all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) operating under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s into two-umbrella schemes, with total investment of Rs 1,01,321 crore, aimed to increase farmers’ income and food security.

The two schemes are PM Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) that will promote sustainable agriculture and Krishonnati Yojana (KY), which will achieve food security for self-sufficiency, said Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw.

"All components shall leverage technology to ensure efficient and effective implementation of the various components. These Schemes are implemented through the State Governments," according to a government statement.

Under PM-RKVY, states have been given flexibility to reallocate funds from one component to another based on their specific requirement, the statement added.

The rationalisation of the schemes have been done for the following reason, the government said. These were:

•To avoid duplication, ensure convergence and give flexibility to states.

• Focus on upcoming challenges of agriculture - nutrition security, sustainability, climate resilience, value chain development and private sector participation.

• State governments will be able to draw a comprehensive strategic plan suiting their requirements for agriculture sector.

• Annual Action Plan (AAP) of States can be approved in one go rather approving individual scheme-wise AAPs.

"This exercise ensures that all the existing schemes are being continued. Wherever it was considered necessary to give fillip to any area for farmer’s welfare, the scheme has been taken up in Mission mode, for example National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm [NMEO-OP], Clean Plant Program, Digital Agriculture & National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Seeds [NMEO-OS]," the government said.

The two umbrealla schemes will be tailored to the needs of different states, and will be implemented in coordination and cost sharing with states, Vaishnaw added.