Govt urges northern states to expedite execution of schemes

The Central government has urged northern states to expedite the execution of Centrally-sponsored schemes (CSS) by ensuring timely fund allocation and addressing issues related to state contributions and single nodal account (SNA) balances.

The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare held a regional conference yesterday to conduct a midterm review of agricultural schemes implemented by northern states. Key officials from Punjab, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, and Delhi gathered to evaluate progress and address challenges in the effective implementation of these schemes.

During the meeting, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi advised states to finalize the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) annual action plan for 2025-26 by December to enable timely release of the first installment by April.

The conference focused on improving implementation of major schemes, including RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana, where non-performing states were encouraged to enhance their efforts in the remaining months of the fiscal year.

A comprehensive review of key initiatives took place, covering the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Mission for enhancing credit access, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for risk mitigation and expanded crop insurance, and the Digital Agriculture Mission for advancing data-driven agriculture. The conference highlighted the need for digital integration in crop surveys and the alignment of state land records with the Agristack to streamline operations under PM KISAN.

The meeting also discussed high-priority topics, including the National Edible Oils Mission, NABL accreditation for laboratories under the Insecticides Act, and the efficient use of the Krishi Nivesh Portal and Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF) to foster sector growth.

An open house session concluded the conference, allowing stakeholders to provide insights on overcoming implementation barriers and maximizing the reach of agricultural programs. This regional conference is part of a series by the Central government, addressing specific regional agricultural needs and aiming for equitable and sustainable agricultural development.