New Delhi: Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to qualify for the second installment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after utilising more than 75% of the funds released under the scheme, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Sunday.
Chairing a virtual review meeting on the implementation of RKVY in Maharashtra, Chouhan said the Centre had released ₹335 crore as the first installment to the state. With Maharashtra utilising nearly ₹260 crore, surpassing the prescribed utilisation benchmark, it has now become eligible for the second installment of ₹335 crore, the release of which is being processed.
Congratulating the Maharashtra government, the Union Minister said the achievement reflected the state’s commitment to the effective implementation of agricultural development programmes. He stressed that timely utilisation of funds should be accompanied by continuous monitoring to ensure public money is spent for its intended purpose.
Chouhan also appreciated Maharashtra’s progress in generating Farmer IDs and recalled the state’s prompt distribution of nearly ₹14,000 crore in flood relief directly to farmers’ bank accounts within five days.
Reviewing various components of RKVY, the minister praised the state’s performance under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) but called for faster progress in Digital Agriculture, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Agriculture Extension, Seeds, Oilseeds and Agroforestry. He also urged officials to clear pending liabilities under the Seeds component to improve fund utilisation.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Chouhan emphasised the need for farmers to provide accurate information while applying for crop insurance, clarifying that both Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and non-KCC farmers remain eligible for insurance benefits. He said the proposed declaration on the portal is aimed solely at ensuring transparency and preventing incorrect disclosures.
Expressing confidence in Maharashtra’s performance, the Union Minister said the state would continue to improve implementation across the remaining components of RKVY and further strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.
