Maharashtra becomes first state to qualify for second RKVY Installment, Union Agriculture Minister congratulates state for timely fund utilisation
Mumbai, July 27
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday, chaired a virtual review meeting to assess the utilisation of funds released under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and to consider the issuance of the Second Installment to the Government of Maharashtra.
According to the press release by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, the meeting was attended by Dattatray Bharane, Minister of State for Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, senior officials of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, and officers of the Government of Maharashtra.
During the review, the Union Minister noted that the Government of India had earlier released ₹335 crore as the first installment under RKVY to Maharashtra. The State has utilised approximately ₹260 crore, exceeding the prescribed 75 percent utilisation benchmark, thereby becoming eligible for the second installment. He informed that the process for release of the second installment of ₹335 crore is being taken up.
Congratulating the Government of Maharashtra, Chouhan appreciated the State for achieving over 75+ per cent overall utilisation of RKVY funds within the stipulated time. He described Maharashtra as the first State to become eligible for the second installment and said the achievement reflects the State's commitment towards effective implementation of agricultural development programmes.
The Union Minister emphasised that timely expenditure should always be accompanied by continuous monitoring to ensure that public funds are utilised strictly for the objectives for which they have been sanctioned. He also appreciated Maharashtra's performance in generating Farmer IDs and recalled the State's prompt financial assistance to farmers affected by floods, wherein compensation amounting to around ₹14,000 crore was transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts within five days.
As per the release, reviewing various components under RKVY, Chouhan acknowledged satisfactory progress under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) and appreciated the State's implementation efforts. At the same time, he advised Maharashtra to accelerate expenditure under Digital Agriculture, Agriculture Extension, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Seeds, Oilseeds and Agroforestry components. He also suggested that pending liabilities under the Seeds component be booked expeditiously to improve fund utilisation.
During the meeting, a separate discussion was also held on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The Minister stressed the need for accurate disclosure of information by farmers while applying for crop insurance. He clarified that both Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and non-KCC farmers are eligible to avail crop insurance benefits, but concealment of KCC status by applying through another account should be avoided. The proposed declaration on the portal is intended solely to ensure transparency and correctness of information, and not to restrict benefits to any eligible farmer.
The press release also said that Chouhan underlined that the Government of India provides substantial financial support under the Kisan Credit Card scheme through interest subvention and incentives for prompt repayment. Therefore, correct disclosure of information is essential for ensuring transparency and efficient utilisation of public resources.
Expressing confidence in Maharashtra's continued performance, the Union Minister said that the State would further improve implementation in the remaining components of RKVY and continue contributing to the growth of the agriculture sector.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Nothing to get excited about. Their utilisation of ₹260 crore out of ₹335 crore is good, but what about the quality of implementation? Just spending money doesn't mean it's helping farmers on the ground. Also, the 75% benchmark seems too low - should be higher for states to qualify.
Great to see the Centre appreciating the state government's efforts! The ₹14,000 crore flood compensation within 5 days is remarkable. But I worry about the PMFBY issue - many farmers don't have KCCs and the portal declaration system might confuse them. Hope the state guides them properly.
Interesting that Maharashtra is ahead of other states in fund utilisation. As an observer of Indian agriculture, I see this as a positive step. However, I'd like to see more transparency in how the MIDH and Digital Agriculture funds are allocated. The devil is always in the details!
The issue of farmers hiding KCC status to get insurance is a real problem. But rather than penalising them, the government should simplify the process. Many farmers in my village still struggle with digital portals. Still, good to see Maharashtra leading the way! 🌾
Congratulations to Maharashtra! But let's not ignore the fact that many states are struggling with fund utilisation due to bureaucratic hurdles. The Centre should also look at simplifying the RKVY guidelines to help other states catch up. And please, focus on drought-prone areas in Marathwada and Vidarbha.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.