Day 47 | RAS Mains 2025 Answer Writing | 90 Days

With 60% of Rajasthan’s population dependent on agriculture, it’s crucial to make it profitable and sustainable. The state’s agri-export share is just 1.5% of APEDA products.  This 2019 policy seeks to address the entire value chain in agro-processing, marketing, and exports.

• Duration : launched on 17th December, 2019 ; Policy effective until 31st March 2024, with a review in 2021.

Main Features : 

• Development of Infrastructural Facilities: Support for creating warehouses, cold storages, pack houses, export facilitation centres, aggregation centres in public and private sectors.
• Promote value addition and export of crops with production advantage like cuminseed, coriander, gwar, isabgol, pulses, oilseeds, henna, kinnu, senna, pomegranate and fresh vegetables etc.
• Financial Support
• Capital Subsidy: 50% of project cost up to ₹100 lakh for farmers & their organizations; 25% up to ₹50 lakh for other entrepreneurs.
• Interest Subsidy: 5% on term loans; additional 1% for specific groups (farmers, SC/ST, women, young entrepreneurs).
• Freight Subsidy: ₹15 lakh/year for distant market transport and exports for 3 years; ₹20 lakh/year for organic produce for 5 years.
• Electricity Tariff Subsidy: ₹1.0 per KWH up to ₹2 lakh/year for 5 years ; 30% subsidy on solar power plant cost up to ₹10 lakh.
• Cluster Development Approach to minimize the post harvest losses : Encourage formation of agro-industrial parks, food parks, and agro-processing clusters to benefit farming communities.
• Promotion of FPOs/FPCs: Develop Common Facilitation Centres for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs).
• Promotion of Livestock Products: Identify clusters for animal husbandry and promote quality livestock products through Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP).
• Promotion of Quality Produce : Adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and food safety standards in production, processing, and packaging.
• Contract Farming:  Simplify rules and procedures; amended Rajasthan Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961 to permit contract farming for selected crops.
• Zero Defect Zero Effect Policy: Focus on high-quality production with minimal environmental impact.
• Traceability : Ensure product origin and production practices through cluster-based production and FPOs.
• Widening of Markets : A database for potential avenues for state produce
• Online Mandis: Connected 25 mandis with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) for transparency and better returns.
• Promotion of State Brand and Geographical Indication : Highlight unique Rajasthan products with specific agro-climatic characteristics and local skills.
• Employment Generation and Skill Development : Sector-specific skill development and training modules facilitated by Rajasthan State Livelihoods Development Corporation (RSLDC).
• Conducive Atmosphere for Agro-processing Industry : Simplify procedures with the help of Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Board.

Creation of Credit Facilitation Fund : Establish a ₹500 crore fund with “The Rajasthan State Cooperative Bank Limited” for credit facilities to eligible units under the policy.