Union Cabinet has approved the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) to promote sustainable agriculture and the Krishonnati Yojana (KY) to achieve food security for agriculture self-sufficiency. The PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana will be implemented with a total proposed expenditure of over one lakh crore rupees. This includes over 57 thousand crore rupees for PM-RKVY and 44 thousand 246 crore for Krishonnati Yojana.

The proposal of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was approved for rationalisation of all centrally sponsored schemes operating under this ministry into these two umbrella schemes. Briefing media in New Delhi, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting relate to increasing farmers’ income and ensuring food security for the middle-class people. He said the two pillars for this are PM Rashtra Krishi Vikas Yojana’ and ‘Krishonnati Yojana’. Mr. Vaishnaw expressed confidence that the income of farmers will rise after these measures.

The rationalisation of various schemes has been undertaken to avoid duplication, ensure convergence, and provide flexibility to states, and state governments will also be able to draw a comprehensive strategic plan suiting their requirements for the agriculture sector. The PM-RKVY comprises of the schemes including Soil health management, rainfed area development, Agro Forestry,  Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Per Drop More Crop.