Lok Sabha Question No. 5205 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Rainfed Area Development of PMRKVY
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Saumitra Khan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5205

TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH  MARCH, 2026

## RAINFED AREA DEVELOPMENT OF PMRKVY 5205.  SHRI SAUMITRA KHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष  एवं  िकसान  कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

(a) the details of activities undertaken under the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) component of the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) in West Bengal, especially Bankura, during the last five years, year-wise; (b) the  details  of  funds  allocated,  released  and  utilised  for  RAD  in  West  Bengal during the said period, year and district-wise; (c) the number of farmers and villages covered under RAD in West Bengal along with  details  of  integrated  farming  systems,  water  conservation  projects  and  soil management activities undertaken; (d) whether any evaluation has been conducted on the impact of RAD in improving farm productivity, income levels and climate resilience in West Bengal and if so, the findings thereof; and (e) whether any proposals from West Bengal for expansion or new projects under

- RAD are currently pending and if so, the details and current status thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR ) (a) to (c):

Government  is  implementing  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  Rainfed Area  Development (RAD) across the  country  including West Bengal  since  2014-15. The scheme focuses on promoting Integrated Farming System (IFS) in the country for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variability. Under the  scheme,  crops/cropping  system  is  integrated  with  activities  like  horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc.

As reported by the State Government of West Bengal, during the last five years, against central allocation of funds of Rs. 7638 Lakh, Rs. 6802 Lakh has been released to the state, out of which, Rs. 6566 lakh has been utilized.  30072 ha area has been covered  under  Integrated  Farming  System,  benefitting  72145  farmers  in  18  districts covering 563 villages in the State. District wise data is not maintained centrally.

Year wise details of central share released and utilised under RAD are as follows:-

| Year              | Details of Central Share of Funds under RAD (Rs. In Lakh)   | Details of Central Share of Funds under RAD (Rs. In Lakh)   | Details of Central Share of Funds under RAD (Rs. In Lakh)   |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|                   | Allocation                                                  | Released                                                    | Utilized                                                    |
| 2021-22           | 700                                                         | 350                                                         | 350                                                         |
| 2022-23           | 800                                                         | 688                                                         | 679                                                         |
| 2023-24           | 1048                                                        | 1048                                                        | 1048                                                        |
| 2024-25           | 1100                                                        | 1125                                                        | 1061                                                        |
| 2025-26*          | 3990                                                        | 3591                                                        | 3428                                                        |
| Total             | 7638                                                        | 6802                                                        | 6566                                                        |
| *As on 19.03.2026 | *As on 19.03.2026                                           | *As on 19.03.2026                                           | *As on 19.03.2026                                           |

Year wise details of activities undertaken under the progarmme during last five years in Bankura district as provided by state government of West Bengal is as under:-

| Activity (unit)                           | 2021-22           | 2022-23           | 2023-24           | 2024-25           | 2025-26*          |
|-------------------------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| Area under Integrated Farming System (ha) | 508               | 930.08            | 816               | 701               | 1497.54           |
| Fisheries (Nos.)                          | 535               | 1134              | 769               | 864               | 2544              |
| Vemicompost (Nos.)                        | 09                | 10                | 01                | 864               | 2544              |
| *As on 19.03.2026                         | *As on 19.03.2026 | *As on 19.03.2026 | *As on 19.03.2026 | *As on 19.03.2026 | *As on 19.03.2026 |

(d) & (e):  Evaluation Study of RAD Program has been carried out by NITI Aayog in 2025.The Study found that RAD interventions, when bundled and  implemented in a site-appropriate manner, have proven to be effective in enhancing livelihood security in vulnerable agro-climatic zones and has resulted in substantially enhancing adaptive capacity in drought-prone regions. 61.27% of the beneficiaries described the impact as very positive in respect of boosting resilience against climatic shocks, either through soil-moisture conservation, diversified cropping systems, or landscape-based development  approaches.  The  scheme  is  demand  driven  and  State  submit  their Annual Action Plan according to the requirements of the State.

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