Maharashtra first State to qualify for second RKVY installment after utilising over 75 percent funds

New Delhi: Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to qualify for the release of the second instalment under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) after utilising more than 75 percent of the funds released in the first instalment, Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday.

During a virtual review meeting with officials of the Government of Maharashtra, Chouhan said the Government of India had released ₹335 crore as the first instalment under RKVY, of which the state has utilised around ₹260 crore, making it eligible for the second instalment. He said the process for releasing the next ₹335 crore has been initiated.

Congratulating the state government, the Minister said Maharashtra was the first state to qualify for the second installment within the stipulated time, reflecting its commitment towards effective implementation of agricultural development programmes.

He, however, stressed that timely expenditure must be accompanied by continuous monitoring to ensure public funds are utilised strictly for the purposes for which they are sanctioned.

Reviewing the progress of various RKVY components, Chouhan appreciated Maharashtra's performance under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). At the same time, he asked the state to speed up implementation and expenditure under Digital Agriculture, Agriculture Extension, National Horticulture Mission (NHM), Seeds, Oilseeds and Agroforestry. He also advised officials to clear pending liabilities under the Seeds component to improve fund utilisation.

The Minister also commended Maharashtra for the progress made in generating Farmer IDs. Referring to flood relief provided by the state, he noted that financial assistance of around ₹14,000 crore had been transferred directly into farmers' bank accounts within five days after the floods.

The review meeting also discussed implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Chouhan emphasised that farmers should furnish accurate information while applying for crop insurance. He clarified that both Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and non-KCC farmers remain eligible for crop insurance benefits, and the proposed declaration on the portal is intended only to improve transparency and ensure correct disclosure of information.

The Minister also underlined the importance of accurate disclosure under the KCC scheme, noting that the Government of India provides substantial financial support through interest subvention and incentives for prompt repayment. He expressed confidence that Maharashtra would further improve implementation across the remaining RKVY components and continue contributing to agricultural growth.