Agri ministry's flagship scheme may be revamped

The ministry of agriculture proposes to revamp its flagship growth scheme, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, to adopt a focused approach towards each sector and avoid multiplicity of schemes.

According to official sources, the scheme will support a new objective of asset creation along with its current job of funding project and schemes.

The fund allocation will be spread across four to five years rather than an yearly allocation.

"For infrastructure in agriculture, be it in marketing or irrigation, one needs continuity in funding for at least three-four years and not one year.

"Therefore, there is a need to change the focus of funding RKVY," said an official source.

Fund allocation to RKVY is expected to grow by 15-20 per cent in the Budget to be announced in March, the source said.

Officials explained that funding to states under RKVY will be made proportional to the growth of agriculture in the particular state.

This is done to improve the states' involvement in the whole sectoral growth. "Some states keep the funds unutilised for some reason," they said.

Besides, the number of schemes under RKVY may be pruned to a dozen from 50-60 currently but without diluting the objective of the schemes.

Besides, various schemes announced earlier, which are being administered under various departments, will be consolidated under RKVY.

The desired infrastructure under the flagship scheme may be local processing units, collection centres, dam/canal,

purchase centre.

Schemes, which are operating independently and may be included under RKVY, which are -- green revolution to eastern region, integrated development of 60,000 pulses villages in rainfed areas, promotion of oil palm, initiative on vegetable clusters, nutri-cereals national mission for protein supplements etc.

Officials said except seeds, fertilisers, plant protection scheme and agricultural implements and machinery, all other schemes have shown good performance.

Some of the schemes proposed to be included under the 12th Plan are Central Agriculture Infrastructure & Establishment Scheme, Nat-ional Agriculture Infra-structure, National Agriculture Infrastructure and Infor-mation Development Scheme, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, National Mission on Seeds and Planting Material, National Food Security Mission, National Oilseeds and Oil-palm Mission, National Horticulture Mission, National Water Efficiency and Productivity Mission, National Mission on Farm Mechanisation and Energy, and National Farmers Income Security Scheme.

Some of the schemes which are proposed to be scrapped after a proper evaluation are the Technology Mission of Integrated Development of Horticulture in the northeastern states, Sikkim, J&K, and HP, Agri-Clinic and Agri-Business centres scheme, Macro-Management of Agriculture.

RKVY was launched in 2007 with the objective to achieve four per cent annual growth in the agricultural sector during the 11th Plan.