Awareness on Agri-Business Incubation
Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) has been launched in 2007-08 and the scheme has been revised with effect from 01.11.2017 as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR) with broad objectives of making farming a remunerative economic activity through strengthening the farmer’s effort, risk mitigation with major focus on development and creation of pre & post-harvest infrastructure. Under this scheme, funds are released to the State Governments/UTs on the basis of projects related to agriculture and allied sectors, approved by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the concerned State/UT which is the empowered body to approve projects for implementation under this scheme. There is an Agri-Entrepreneurship & innovation component in RKVY-RAFTAAR which is operated by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare.
Five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty four RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed by this Ministry during 2018-19 to advise on smooth and efficient execution of Agri-Entrepreneurship programme under RKVY in various States.
So far, 452 startups of agriculture and allied sectors have been selected by Knowledge Partners (KPs) and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) for funding under agri-entrepreneurship programme under this scheme.
Overall allocation under the RKVY-RAFTAAR scheme in the last three years including 8% for innovation and agri-entrepreneurship component is as under:
| Year | Allocation (Rs. in crores) |
| 2017-18 | 4750.00 |
| 2018-19 | 3600.00 |
| 2019-20 | 3745.00 |
Selected Knowledge Partners (KPs) and RKVY Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been disseminating information on agri-entrepreneurship programme of RKVY in their respective regions by organizing meetings. These institutes have been inviting applications by advertising through electronic & print media from potential and interested startups having practical and innovative business idea in agriculture and allied sectors under the agri-entrepreneurship programme of this scheme as per laid down guidelines .
This information was given in a written reply by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in Rajya Sabha today.