Govt proposes merging two agricultural schemes for flexibility to states

Centre seeks inter-ministerial views on merging PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana into a single umbrella scheme to give states more flexibility in farm spending

The government on Friday informed Parliament that it is seeking inter-ministerial comments on a proposal to merge two central agriculture schemes - Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Krishonnati Yojana - into a single umbrella scheme to provide greater flexibility to states.

Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said the ministry's centrally sponsored schemes currently operate under two umbrellas - Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and Krishonnati Yojana (KY).

An Expenditure Finance Commission (EFC) draft for an umbrella scheme covering centrally sponsored schemes of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the 16th Finance Commission period has been initiated, he said.

 

"The draft has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultations," Thakur said.

The single umbrella scheme proposal has been initiated to give greater flexibility to states to take up need-based components, he noted.

After responses from allied ministries and government think tank NITI Aayog are received, the process involves recasting the EFC note, if required.

Details of restructuring, funding framework, criteria and weightage for allocation of funds to states and UTs, and performance-linked funding will be available when the EFC note is finalised and approved after due consultations, as per the laid down process.