Ministry of Agriculture Holds Regional Conference to Review Agricultural Schemes in Northern States

New Delhi: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare hosted a regional conference today at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi, to conduct a midterm review of agricultural schemes implemented across Northern States. Key officials from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, as well as the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi, gathered to assess the progress of various schemes and address challenges in their effective implementation.

The meeting was led by Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi, who urged the states to expedite the execution of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) by ensuring timely fund allocation and addressing issues related to state contributions and Single Nodal Account (SNA) balances. Dr. Chaturvedi emphasized the importance of operationalizing the SNA-SPARSH platform, returning unutilized balances and interest, and ensuring the prompt submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs).

The conference focused on enhancing the implementation of major agricultural schemes, including the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana. Non-performing states were encouraged to step up their efforts in the remaining months of the fiscal year to meet targets. Dr. Chaturvedi also urged the states to finalize their RKVY annual action plans for FY 2025-26 by December to ensure the timely release of the first installment by April, aiming to reduce delays in fund utilization observed in previous years.

A comprehensive review was conducted on key initiatives such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Mission, aimed at enhancing credit access for farmers, and the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), which provides risk mitigation and expanded crop insurance coverage. Additionally, the Digital Agriculture Mission was discussed, with a focus on integrating data-driven approaches to agriculture and the alignment of state land records with the Agristack under the PM KISAN scheme.

The meeting also addressed high-priority initiatives, including the National Edible Oils Mission, NABL accreditation for laboratories under the Insecticides Act, and the efficient utilization of the Krishi Nivesh Portal and Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to foster sector growth.

Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Joint Secretary (IC, Oilseeds & Credit), set the agenda for the review and welcomed delegates from the agriculture departments of Northern States, along with representatives from allied departments such as Tribal Affairs, NABARD, and Cooperation.

An Open House session followed the formal proceedings, allowing stakeholders to provide valuable insights on overcoming implementation barriers and maximizing the reach of agricultural programs. This conference is part of a series of regional meetings organized by the Government of India to address the unique agricultural needs of each region, with a focus on equitable and sustainable development.

Senior officials from the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, including Additional Secretaries Manindar Kaur, Dr. Pramod Kumar Meherda, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Shubha Thakur, and Joint Secretaries Praveen Kumar Singh, Samuel Praveen Kumar, and others, attended the event alongside representatives from the Ministry of Cooperation, NABARD, and the Department of Financial Services.