Schemes, Projects, Plans, Programs etc.

Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) was initiated in 2007 as an umbrella scheme to ensure the holistic development of agriculture and allied sectors. The scheme allows states to select their own agricultural and allied development activities based on district and state agriculture plans.

Since its inception, RKVY has been implemented across various sectors, including crop development, horticulture, agricultural mechanization, natural resource management, marketing and post-harvest management, animal husbandry, dairy development, fisheries, and agricultural extension. Until 2013-14, the scheme was executed as an Additional Central Assistance (ACA) to the State Plan Scheme with 100% central funding. In 2014-15, it was restructured as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, maintaining 100% central assistance. From 2015-16 onwards, the funding pattern was modified to a 60:40 ratio between the Centre and the States, while North Eastern and Himalayan states received funding in a 90:10 ratio. For Union Territories, the scheme continues to be fully funded by the central government.

Based on feedback from states and insights gained during implementation in the 12th Five-Year Plan, the guidelines were revised, and the scheme was rebranded as RKVY-RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sector Rejuvenation). This revamp aimed to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and inclusiveness for the remaining period of the Fourteenth Finance Commission.

The primary objective of RKVY-RAFTAAR is to enhance farming as a profitable economic activity by supporting farmers' initiatives, mitigating risks, and promoting agribusiness entrepreneurship. The scheme focuses on several key aspects:

1. Strengthening farmers’ efforts by developing necessary pre- and post-harvest infrastructure, including access to quality inputs, storage facilities, and market linkages.

2. Providing states with autonomy and flexibility to design and implement schemes as per local agricultural requirements.

3. Encouraging value-chain-based production models that help increase farmers’ income and boost productivity.

4. Supporting risk mitigation and additional income-generating activities such as integrated farming, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, aromatic plant cultivation, and floriculture.

5. Addressing national agricultural priorities through targeted sub-schemes.

6. Empowering youth by promoting skill development, innovation, and agribusiness-based entrepreneurship to attract them to the agricultural sector.

For the financial year 2021-22, several projects were approved under RKVY, covering a range of initiatives in animal husbandry and dairy development. These include:

• Establishment of a second unit of the Duck Breeding Farm at Kalyani, Nadia, approved in 2017-18, with a sanctioned cost of ₹7.6457 crore, fully funded and implemented by WBLDCL.

• Establishment of a Commercial Layer Farm at Kalyani, Nadia, approved in 2017-18, with a sanctioned cost of ₹30.60 crore, with ₹30.589 crore released so far, implemented by WBLDCL.

• Implementation of the Prani Shakti initiative, involving a web-enabled Animal Resource Extension and Information Management System, approved in 2016-17 with a budget of ₹11.74 crore, of which ₹0.8078 crore has been released. The project is implemented by DAH & VS.

• Expansion of Mobile Veterinary Clinics (MVC) to enhance animal healthcare services across 126 blocks in West Bengal, approved in 2021-22, with a sanctioned cost of ₹24.1583 crore, of which ₹15.57 crore has been released. This project is executed by DAH & VS.

• Development of infrastructure at Bhagirathi Milk Union, approved in 2021-22, with a sanctioned cost of ₹4.7294 crore, with ₹2 crore released so far, implemented by WBCMPFL.

• Establishment of a Modernised Animal House cum Contract Research Organisation (CRO) at the State Centre for Lab Animal Breeding, approved in 2021-22, with a sanctioned cost of ₹24.15 crore, of which ₹3.80 crore has been released, implemented by WBLDCL.

• Establishment of a second unit of an environment-controlled Broiler Breeding Farm at Jatikhali, Jalpaiguri, approved in 2021-22, with a sanctioned cost of ₹24.8326 crore, with ₹5 crore released so far, implemented by WBLDCL.

• Establishment of a new 200 TPD (expandable up to 400 TPD) Poultry Feed Plant at the Broiler Breeding Farm, Jatiakhali, Jalpaiguri, approved in 2021-22, with a sanctioned cost of ₹24.9208 crore, with ₹4.93 crore released so far, implemented by WBLDCL.

The total financial outlay for these projects under RKVY for 2021-22 stands at ₹152.7768 crore, with ₹70.3425789 crore already disbursed for implementation.

RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND (RIDF)

Government of India created the RIDF in NABARD in 1995-96, with an initial corpus of Rs.2,000 crore. With the allocation of Rs.40,490.95 crore for 2021-22 under RIDF XXVII, the cumulative allocation has reached Rs.418410.52 crore, including Rs.18,500 crore under Bharat Nirman.

Eligible Activities

At present, there are 37 eligible activities under RIDF as approved by Gol. (Annexure I). The eligible activities are classified under three broad categories i.e.

1. Agriculture and related sector

2. Social sector

3. Rural connectivity Eligible Institutions

Eligible Institutions

1. State Governments / Union Territories

2. State Owned Corporations / State Govt. Undertakings

3. State Govt. Sponsored / Supported Organisations

4. Panchayat Raj Institutions/Self Help Groups (SHGs)/ NGOs

{provided the projects are submitted through the nodal department of State Government (i.e Finance Department)}

Mode of Finance

• NABARD releases the sanctioned amount on reimbursement basis except for the initial mobilisation advance @30% to North Eastern & Hilly States and 20% for other states.

Quantum of Loan and Margin/Borrower Contribution

• The project for rural connectivity, social and agri-related sector, are eligible for loans from 80 to 95% of project cost. Cost escalation proposals for certain genuine reasons are considered within two years of sanction.

Rate of interest:

• With effect from 01 April 2012, the interest rates payable to banks on deposits placed with NABARD and loans disbursed by NABARD from RIDF have been linked to the Bank Rate prevailing at that point of time.

Repayment period:

• Loan to be repaid in equal annual instalments within seven years from the date of withdrawal, including a grace period of two years. The interest shall be paid at the end of each quarter i.e. 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December every year, including grace period.

Penal Interest:

• Interest on the overdue interest amount is to be paid at the same rate as applicable to the principal amount.

Security for Loan:

• Loans sanctioned would be secured by the irrevocable letter of authority/mandate registered with Reserve Bank of India/any other Scheduled Commercial Bank, Time promissory Note (TPN), Execution of unconditional Guarantee from State Governments (Additionally required for support to State Government sponsored organisations, etc.) and acceptance of terms and conditions of sanction in the duplicate copy of the sanction letter.

Phasing of RIDF projects:

• The implementation phase for projects sanctioned is spread over 2-5 years, varying with type of the project and also location of the State.

Additional Information

• Cumulative Sanctions and Disbursements

Below is the list of annual and monthly cumulative sanctions and disbursements under RIDF

• Monthly

• Annual

• Monitoring mechanism for RIDF Projects

• Evaluation Studies

• Rural Infrastructure Promotion Fund (RIPF)

• Long Term Irrigation Fund

• Ongoing Projects

• Completed Projects

National Livestock Mission (NLM)

This scheme aims to Entrepreneurship Development in small ruminant, poultry, pig and fodder section to increase per animal productivity through breed improvement, increase meat, egg, goat milk, wool, risk management through livestock insurance and capacity building of state functionaries and livestock owner through skill based training.

Under Entrepreneurship programme, there is provision for establishment of the following with forward and backward linkages

1. Parent Farm, Hatchery, Brooder-Cum-Mother unit with minimum 1000 LIT (LIT) parent layer and 100 cock in poultry

2. Sheep/Goat Breeding Unit with minimum 500 female + 25 male

3. Pig Breeder Farm cum fattening unit with minimum 100 sows + 10 boars and

4. Hay/silage/total mixed ration/fodder block making unit

To the entrepreneurs 50% of capital investment will be given as subsidy. The remaining will be in the form of bank loan. Subsidy admissible will be maximum Rs. 25 lakhs, 50 lakhs, 30 lakhs and 50 lakhs for poultry, sheep/goat, pig and feed and fodder units respectively.

Eligible Entities (Individuals, SHGs, FPOs, FCOs, JLGs and Section 8 Companies) will submit application through the NLM Portal www.nlm.udyamimitra.in. Scheme guideline is available on https://dahd.nic.in/national_livestock_mission.

The scheme is under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package of Rs 15000 crores for incentivizing investment of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO), individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSME and Section 8 companies across processing and value addition in dairy, meat, animal feed manufacturing, breed improvement and multiplication through technology interventions. The Central Government will provide interest subvention of 3% to eligible entities for eligible activities under the AHIDF scheme through eligible lending institutions. Credit guarantee by Govt. up to 25% of total borrowing to projects which are viable and covered under MSME norms will be provided by NABARD.

The Central Govt. has developed, a dedicated portal namely www.ahidf.udyamimitra.in through which the applicant can submit the loan application online. Scheme related guidelines are available in the aforementioned portal and also at www.dahd.nic.in

Livestock Health & Disease Control Programme

This umbrella scheme aims for prevention, control and containment of Livestock diseases through vaccination, treatment, awareness creation, training etc. It has two schemes NADCP and LH & DC.

A) NADCP has 2 sub-schemes

1. Foot & Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP): This sub-scheme aims to control of FMD disease by vaccinating all cloven footed domesticated animals against FMD. Vaccination has not started yet.

2. Brucellosis Control Programme (Brucella-CP): This sub-scheme aims to control of Brucellosis disease by vaccinating all female calves between the age group of 4 to 8 months against Brucellosis. First phase of vaccination was done on mission mode from 20/09/2021 to 25/09/2021 and total of 7.41 lakhs vaccine dose was performed. Second phase is going to be held from 21/03/2022 to 02/04/2022.

B) Livestock Health & Disease Control (LH & DC) scheme has 4 sub-schemes

1. Peste des Petits Ruminants Eradication Programme (PPR-EP):It is a Central Sector component with 100% central assistance with an aim to vaccinate entire sheep and goat population over 4 months of age, healthy and non- pregnant animal with PPR vaccine. The sole objective is to eradicate the disease by 2030 through 4 years carpet vaccination and surveillance programme.

2. Classical Swine Fever Control Programme (CSF-CP):It is a Central Sector component with 100% central assistance with an aim to vaccinate entire pig population over 3 months of age, healthy and non- pregnant animal with CSF vaccine. The sole objective is to control the disease by vaccination of eligible population and surveillance programme.

3. Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries (ESVHD)- Mobile Veterinary Units: MVU is customized fabricated vehicle with equipments of diagnosis, treatment, minor surgery, audio visual aids for veterinary health care services at farmers’ doorstep on the basis of calls received from farmers at state level call centre.

4. Assistance to States for Control of Animal Diseases (ASCAD):This sub scheme aims for vaccination against economically important livestock and poultry diseases, surveillance & monitoring of important livestock and poultry diseases, strengthening of laboratories, control of emergence and exotic livestock and poultry diseases by strengthening disease control, publicity, awareness, training and research.

1. The World Food Programme (WFP) initiated the WFP-618 Cattle Resettlement Project with the objective of reducing pollution in Kolkata, Howrah, and their surrounding suburbs while also improving the financial condition of cattle owners. Under this initiative, four resettlement projects were planned at Purba Kolkata, Howrah, Garden Reach, and Ganganagar. However, due to government decisions, only the Ganganagar project in North 24 Parganas was implemented, commencing operations in 1983.  

2. The Cattle Resettlement Project at Ganganagar spans an area of 17.33 acres, with a perimeter of 1,422 meters. The project infrastructure includes 14 buildings, 28 animal sheds, and a dedicated water reservoir with a capacity of 2.7 lakh liters. Two generator sets and two pumps have been installed to ensure uninterrupted power and water supply. Additionally, an Effluent Treatment Plant has been set up for waste management. The facility has been designed to accommodate up to 2,139 animals.