Agroforestry Component under RKVY

What is the Agroforestry component under RKVY?

The Agroforestry component under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) is the central government's vehicle for encouraging farmers to grow trees alongside their crops and along field boundaries. Run by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, it carries forward the work of the earlier Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF), which was launched in 2016-17 to translate India's National Agroforestry Policy of 2014 into action on the ground. India was among the first countries in the world to adopt a dedicated national agroforestry policy.

The core idea is captured in the slogan associated with the programme, the promotion of a tree on every farm bund and open farm space. Agroforestry combines trees with crops and, sometimes, livestock on the same land. Done well, it gives a farmer an additional stream of income from timber, fruit, fodder or other tree produce, improves soil health, and makes the farm more resilient to drought and other climate stresses.

Because agroforestry is implemented through state agriculture plans, the component is best understood as a framework delivered by the states rather than a single, uniform central benefit paid out to individuals.

Who is eligible for agroforestry support?

Who the programme is for:

• Farmers who cultivate land and want to raise trees alongside their crops or on field boundaries.
• Farmers willing to take up the specific activities their state has adopted under its RKVY agriculture plan, such as nursery development or plantation.

Who cannot expect a direct benefit:

• Individuals seeking a direct cash payment from the central government cannot apply. This is not a cash-transfer scheme, and there is no central online application for a personal benefit.
• Landless persons are generally not the target, since the activities are built around planting and tending trees on cultivated land.

Eligibility in practice is decided by the state implementing agency, which sets out which farmers and which activities it will support in a given year.

How to apply for agroforestry support

1. Approach your state agriculture or horticulture department. The district agriculture office is the usual first point of contact.
2. Ask which agroforestry activities are being implemented in your district under the state's RKVY plan, such as supply of planting material, plantation support or demonstrations.
3. Register as a beneficiary with the department, providing your land or cultivation records, identity proof and bank details.
4. Take up the sanctioned activity, for example, raising a nursery or planting the recommended tree species — and follow the department's guidance.
5. Receive any assistance as provided under the state programme, typically through Direct Benefit Transfer where cash support is involved.

What support does the programme provide?

Under the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare supported activities such as the production of quality planting material through nurseries, plantation on farmland, capacity building of farmers, and demonstrations and extension. As the component now runs under RKVY, the precise activities, cost norms and the split of funding between the centre and the state are set within the state's agriculture plan and vary across states.

Because these details differ from state to state and are revised over time, farmers should confirm the exact support available with their district agriculture office rather than assume a single national figure.

Why agroforestry matters

Agroforestry helps address several goals at once: it diversifies farm income, adds tree cover outside forests, improves soil and water conservation, and contributes to India's climate commitments by increasing carbon stored on farmland. By embedding agroforestry within RKVY, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare gives states the flexibility to design tree-on-farm activities that suit their local agro-climatic conditions.

Help and where to verify

• Kisan Call Centre: 1800-180-1551, the national farm helpline for guidance on schemes
• State agriculture / horticulture department and the district agriculture office, for the activities actually available in your area
• RKVY portal: rkvy.da.gov.in, for the programme framework

Note: the dedicated central agroforestry web pages were not reachable at the time of writing, so the details above rest on the established National Agroforestry Policy of 2014 and the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry framework. Farmers should confirm the current activities, eligibility and any assistance with their state agriculture department before proceeding.