A major cause for the slow growth in agriculture during the last few decades in India is said to be lack of adequate investment in agriculture especially public investment. Agriculture growth was just 3% during the 1980s. Hence, the National Development Council has ratified a major scheme to raise investment in the sector at the same time by considering the agro climatic conditions and other aspects prevailing at the state and district levels. Given these problems and prospects in agriculture, the NDC has launched the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in 2007-2008. Main objective of RKVY is to incentivize States to draw up comprehensive agriculture development plans, taking into account agro-climatic conditions, natural resources and technology for ensuring more inclusive and integrated development of agriculture and allied sectors. Operational guidelines of the RKVY is changed and higher attention has been given for the generation of agricultural assets. The revised Operational Guidelines of the scheme mandated that at least 35% of normal RKVY allocation should be utilized by the states for implementing Infrastructure and Assets development projects. The main objectives of RKVY Scheme are following: • To incentivize the States so as to increase public investment in Agriculture and allied sectors. • To provide flexibility and autonomy to States in the process of planning and executing Agriculture and allied sector schemes. • To ensure the preparation of agriculture plans for the districts and the States based on agro-climatic conditions, availability of technology and natural resources. • To ensure that the local needs/crops/ priorities are better reflected in the agricultural plans of the States. • To achieve the goal of reducing the yield gaps in important crops through focused interventions. • To maximize returns to the farmers in Agriculture and allied sectors. • To bring about quantifiable changes in the production and productivity of various components of agriculture and allied sectors by addressing them in a holistic manner. Strategy of RKVY RKVY gives considerable flexibility and autonomy to States in planning and implementing projects related to agriculture and allied sectors. States have to formulate strategies for the development of the sector in a holistic way taking into account their agro-climatic conditions so as to effectively address their local needs and priorities. Diversity in the agricultural situation across the country is well considered under the scheme as there is no “one size fits all” approach. RKVY also emphasizes on convergence through District Agriculture Plans (DAPs) and State Agriculture Plan (SAP) for optimal utilization of funds by avoiding overlapping under multiple schemes. The RKVY has four components: RKVY - Production and Growth (35% weightage), RKVY - Infrastructure and Assets (35% weightage), RKVY Special Schemes (20% weightage) and RKVY Flexi Fund (10% weightage). Budget 2016 has provided an allocation of Rs 5400 for RKVY. *********
