Union Cabinet Approves Rationalization of Agricultural Schemes to Boost Sustainable Farming and Food Security

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the rationalization of all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) into two comprehensive umbrella schemes—Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY). This consolidation aims to streamline agricultural programs, promote sustainable farming practices, and enhance India’s food security and agricultural self-sufficiency.

The total proposed expenditure for these two umbrella schemes is Rs 1,01,321.61 crore, with Rs 69,088.98 crore as the central government’s share and Rs 32,232.63 crore as the states’ contribution. The PM-RKVY will primarily promote sustainable agriculture through various initiatives, while the KY will focus on ensuring food security and enhancing agricultural productivity. These programs will be implemented through state governments, providing them with flexibility and autonomy to address their unique agricultural challenges.

The Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) includes multiple schemes such as Soil Health Management, Rainfed Area Development, Agroforestry, Agricultural Mechanization, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. A key feature of the PM-RKVY is that state governments will have the flexibility to reallocate funds from one component to another based on their specific needs, allowing for more tailored agricultural solutions.

The Krishonnati Yojana (KY) will focus on addressing the critical challenges of nutrition security, climate resilience, and value chain development for agricultural commodities. The KY will also include initiatives such as the National Mission for Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), Digital Agriculture, and the Clean Plant Program, with an overarching goal of advancing agricultural self-sufficiency and sustainability.

In a notable modification, the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) under the KY will be expanded with a new component—MOVCDNER-Detailed Project Report (MOVCDNER-DPR)—which will provide North Eastern states with the flexibility to tackle their region-specific agricultural challenges.

The rationalization of these schemes aims to avoid duplication, ensure convergence, and provide greater flexibility to states in crafting comprehensive strategic agricultural plans. These plans will not only focus on increasing crop productivity but will also address emerging challenges such as climate-resilient agriculture and value chain development.

By consolidating the schemes, states can now prepare Comprehensive Strategic Documents that outline long-term strategies for the agricultural sector. This holistic approach will enable state governments to submit a single Annual Action Plan (AAP) for approval, streamlining the process and allowing for better coordination and efficient implementation.