Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana Announcement in HP Budget 2024-25

Himachal Pradesh government has launched Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana 2024 to promote self employment in natural farming. This scheme is the 3rd component under Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Yojana. Other 2 components being HP e taxi scheme in which electric vehicles attract subsidy of 50% and Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Startup Yojana in which solar panel subsidy of 50% is given. Read this article till the end to know complete details of Rajiv Gandhi Swarozgar Yojana 3rd component.

About Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana 2024 

While presenting the Himachal Pradesh Budget 2024-25, FM mentioned Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana. While delivering the budget speech, FM said "The State Government will promote self employment in natural farming. I announce a new scheme Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana as the 3rd component of Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Yojana aimed at increasing the income of farmers". 

1st Phase of Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Startup Yojana

In the first phase of Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Startup Yojana, 10 farmers from each Panchayat will be encouraged for Chemical Free Farming. It would result in around 36,000 farmers adopting the natural farming. Farmers who are already doing farming will be given priority. As the farmers continue to join this scheme and use cow dung instead of urea and 12- 32-16 fertilizer in the production of wheat and urea in maize, then the govt. guarantees purchase of their grains at a minimum support price (MSP). 

Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start up Yojana Benefits & Features

Natural farming, also known as sustainable or organic farming, aims to cultivate crops and raise livestock in a way that minimizes environmental impact, promotes biodiversity, and sustains the health of the soil. The benefits of natural farming under Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana includes:-

• Encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming
• Preserving Soil Health
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Water Conservation
• Sustainable Resource Management
• Promoting Animal Welfare
• Chemical-Free Farming
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Local Economy Support
• Education and Awareness
• Resilience and Adaptability

Implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana

• With the aim of motivating unemployed youth for natural farming, maximum of 20 quintals of naturally grown grains per family will be procured by the Government at the MSP of Rs. 40 per kg and maize at the rate of Rs. 30 per kg. 
• The MSP given by Himachal Pradesh govt. is the highest in the country. 
• This is another effort of our Government for making Himachal Pradesh "Self-Reliant". 
• Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana will provide a security net to those farmers who practice natural farming. 
• Even youth in rural areas will be motivated for self-employment in the agriculture sector. 
• With this initiative, 15,000 acres of land will be certified as natural farming land through Web Portal. 
• 10 new "Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs)" will be formed under the intervention. 
• Rs. 50 crore will be spent on this during 2024-25. 
• In addition to this, Rs. 10 crore will be spent for giving assistance to the farmers for wire mesh and barbed wire.

Overview of Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana

Name of Scheme	Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Start-up Yojana
in Hindi	राजीव गाँधी प्राकृतिक खेती स्टार्टअप योजना
State	Himachal Pradesh
Type of Scheme	Self Employment through Natural Farming
Objective	To provide self employment to youths and farmers by encouraging them to practice chemical free farming
Who are Beneficiaries	Farmers and Youths
Parent Scheme	Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Yojana

Source / Reference Link: https://ebudget.hp.nic.in/Aspx/Anonymous/pdf/FS_Eng_2024.pdf