What RKVY does
RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), launched 2007-08 and restructured to RKVY-RAFTAAR (Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation) in 2017-18, is the flagship state-flexibility scheme. It lets states design their own component-mix from a defined basket; Soil Health Mission was merged in from 2022-23.
Component basket
- Soil Health & Fertility (incl. SHC).
- PDMC — Per Drop More Crop (drip + sprinkler).
- Crop Diversification.
- Innovation & Agri-entrepreneurship — RKVY-RAFTAAR Innovation & Agri-entrepreneurship Grant: ₹5 lakh (Idea), ₹25 lakh (Seed Stage), milestone-tracked acceleration support.
- Agri-mechanization convergence with SMAM.
- Value addition.
- Sub-Mission Agroforestry.
How a startup or farmer applies — step by step
- For agri-startup grants: identify your state's RKVY-RAFTAAR Knowledge Partner (KP) — usually a State Agricultural University or empanelled agri- incubator (a-IDEA at NAARM Hyderabad, ICAR-CIAE, BIRAC, etc.).
- Submit a Detailed Project Report with technology pitch, business model, team profile, and target milestones.
- KP-led pitch panel evaluates and shortlists for the Idea stage (₹5 lakh) or Seed stage (₹25 lakh) grant.
- Grant tranches are released against milestone achievement; progress reports submitted via the RKVY-RAFTAAR online platform.
- For farmer-side components (Soil Health, PDMC, Crop Diversification, Agroforestry), the state Department of Agriculture publishes Annual Action Plans; farmer applications follow the relevant sub-component portal (soilhealth.dac.gov.in, pmksy.gov.in, etc.).
- State implementation through District Agriculture Officer / Block Agriculture Officer; physical verification of disbursement.
Latest changes (2024 — 2026)
- March 2024: Soil Health sub- component refreshed with mobile mini-STLs in uncovered blocks; OC-tracking metric tightened.
- August 2024: RKVY-RAFTAAR Innovation Grant pipeline strengthened; agri-tech startups received expanded incubation through BIRAC + NABARD partnership.
- January 2025: Annual Action Plan template revised — states must integrate AgriStack Farmer ID for beneficiary identification.
- July 2025: Agroforestry sub- mission expanded with new species list and TBO (Tree-Borne Oilseeds) convergence with NMEO- Oilseeds.
- 2025-26 Budget: RKVY outlay continued at ~₹6,000 — ₹7,000 crore; state-share DLI audits tightened.
Common rejection or non-disbursement reasons
- State AAP not approved: central tranches release only against approved Annual Action Plans; state delay blocks farmer-side schemes.
- Innovation grant milestone failure: startups missing milestones lose subsequent tranches.
- State arrears in DLI audit: states with UC backlog face withholding of central tranches.
- Beneficiary identification gap: without AgriStack Farmer ID, farmer-side beneficiary lists face validation issues.
- Soil Health Card sampling lapses: states failing to sample at the notified grid density lose Soil Health sub-component allocation.
Grievance: State Director of Agriculture → State Empowered Committee → RKVY Division at MoA&FW. rkvy.da.gov.in hosts the public grievance pipeline.
Coverage and outlay statistics
Per MoA&FW data, cumulative RKVY/RKVY-RAFTAAR allocation since 2007-08 launch exceeds ₹1.2 lakh crore. The Innovation & Agri-entrepreneurship tranche has funded several thousand agri-tech startups across Idea-stage and Seed-stage grants. Soil Health Card (now under RKVY Soil Health & Fertility) has issued 24.74 crore cards cumulatively. State-wise leaders: MP, Maharashtra, UP, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana.
How RKVY stacks with other schemes
RKVY is the state-flexibility umbrella. Soil Health Card is a sub-component; PMKSY-PDMC runs through RKVY-style state plans; ATMA extension converges with RKVY funding. SMAM mechanisation, NFSM productivity, MIDH horticulture and PKVY/NMNF organic/natural farming components either receive RKVY funding directly or share state implementation channels. Agri-startups under RKVY- RAFTAAR Innovation grants often graduate into AIF / PMFME / 10,000 FPOs roles.