Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) — ₹50,000/Hectare for Organic Farming

What is Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana?

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a central government scheme that helps farmers across India shift to organic farming. It was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

The name means "Traditional Agriculture Development Scheme." The government recognises that organic farming protects soil health, reduces input costs over time, and produces safer food. But switching from chemical-based farming to organic farming takes time and money — so PKVY provides financial help to bridge that gap.

Status: LIVE — The scheme is active and funds are being disbursed to eligible farmer clusters. Verify the current budget allocation for 2026-27 at pgsindia-ncof.gov.in.

Under PKVY, a group of at least 50 farmers come together to form a cluster of 50 or more acres (about 20 hectares). This cluster receives government support of ₹50,000 per hectare over 3 years to adopt organic farming practices and obtain PGS-India organic certification.

The scheme is implemented through your State Agriculture Department and does not require you to apply directly to the central government.

Key Benefits

What ₹50,000/ha covers (as per scheme guidelines):

• Organic seeds, bio-inputs (biofertilisers, biopesticides), vermicompost, green manure
• Soil testing and soil health improvement inputs
• Cluster formation and farmer capacity building
• PGS-India certification charges
• Post-harvest value addition and organic market linkage support

Note: The ₹50,000/ha is as per the latest scheme notification. Check pgsindia-ncof.gov.in or contact your Block Agriculture Officer for the current disbursement schedule and any revisions.

Who is Eligible?

You ARE eligible if:

• You are a farmer with agricultural land (small, marginal, or medium farmer)
• You are willing to form or join a cluster of at least 50 farmers
• The cluster has a combined landholding of at least 50 acres (about 20 hectares)
• You are willing to give up chemical inputs (pesticides, synthetic fertilisers) on that land for 3 years
• Your land is not already under any other organic certification scheme funded by the government
• You have a bank account linked to Aadhaar (for DBT payment)
• You are registered on the PGS-India portal (your State Agriculture Department can help with this)

Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and Gram Panchayats can also form clusters and apply on behalf of member farmers.

You are NOT eligible if:

• Your land is already receiving another government subsidy for the same organic farming conversion
• You are using the land for non-agricultural purposes
• Your land records are not in order (disputed ownership, no Khasra/Khatauni records)
• The proposed cluster cannot meet the minimum 50-acre/20-hectare contiguous landholding requirement

Note on tenant farmers: If you cultivate land on lease or as a tenant, eligibility may depend on your state's rules. Consult your Block Agriculture Officer (BAO) before applying.

Documents Required

Collect these documents before approaching the agriculture department:

1. Aadhaar card — for identity and DBT linkage
2. Land records — Khasra / Khatauni / 7/12 extract showing your name and land area (varies by state)
3. Bank passbook — account linked to Aadhaar (DBT is made directly to this account)
4. Passport-size photograph — 2 copies
5. Mobile number linked to Aadhaar — for OTP verification
6. Farmer group details — list of all farmers in your cluster with their Aadhaar and land details (if you are the cluster leader / representative)
7. Soil health card — if already issued; not mandatory but helpful

Your Block Agriculture Officer or Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) will guide you if any additional state-specific documents are needed.

How to Apply — Step by Step

PKVY works through clusters — individual farmers cannot apply alone. The process has the following stages:

Step 1 — Form a Cluster

Talk to your neighbours, fellow farmers, or Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) members. You need at least 50 farmers with a combined landholding of at least 50 acres (20 hectares) to form a cluster. All cluster members must agree to follow organic farming practices on their land for 3 years.

Step 2 — Register on PGS-India Portal

Visit pgsindia-ncof.gov.in and register your cluster as a Local Group (LG). Each cluster needs to register under a Regional Council (RC) — your State Agriculture Department will tell you which RC covers your area. The cluster elects a Group Leader who becomes the point of contact.

Step 3 — Contact Your Block Agriculture Officer (BAO) or Krishi Vigyan Kendra

Go to your Block Agriculture Office or nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). Inform them you want to form a PKVY cluster. They will:

• Verify your cluster details and land records
• Help you prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR)
• Submit the cluster's application through the State Agriculture Department to the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC)

You can also approach the nearest ATMA (Agricultural Technology Management Agency) office, which is the nodal agency for scheme implementation in most states.

Step 4 — State-Level Approval

The State Agriculture Department reviews the DPR and submits it to the SLSC for approval. Once approved, the cluster gets enrolled under PKVY and receives a project sanction order.

Step 5 — Funds Released via DBT

After approval, the financial assistance of ₹50,000/ha is released in stages over 3 years — directly to each farmer's Aadhaar-linked bank account via DBT. The cluster's Group Leader coordinates with the BAO on timelines for each tranche.

Step 6 — Follow Organic Practices and Get PGS Certified

During the 3-year period, farmers in the cluster must:

• Stop using chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers
• Maintain records of farming activities (crop diary)
• Participate in peer inspection visits among cluster members (this is the basis of PGS certification — farmers verify each other's organic practices)
• Undergo training organised by the State Agriculture Department / KVK

At the end of the process, the cluster receives PGS-India organic certification, which allows farmers to market their produce as certified organic and command better prices.

How to Check Application / Payment Status

Option 1 — Via PGS-India Portal

1. Visit pgsindia-ncof.gov.in
2. Log in using your Local Group registration credentials
3. Check your cluster's status, PGS certificate validity, and payment details

Option 2 — At Your Block Agriculture Office

Visit your BAO or ATMA office with your cluster registration number. They can check the approval status and fund disbursement records.

Option 3 — Via PFMS (Public Financial Management System)

DBT payments are processed through PFMS. You can check if a payment has been credited by looking at your bank statement or using your bank's mobile app. The payment description will reference PKVY or RKVY.

Option 4 — Helpline

Contact the Ministry of Agriculture helpline at 1800-180-1551 (Kisan Call Centre, toll-free, available in regional languages) and ask about your PKVY cluster status.

Frequently Asked Questions

I am a small farmer with only 1 acre. Can I still benefit from PKVY? Yes. Even with 1 acre, you can join a cluster with other farmers in your village. Your 1 acre will be part of the cluster's total area, and you will receive ₹50,000 per hectare for your portion — which would be approximately ₹20,000 for 1 acre (since 1 acre ≈ 0.4 hectares) over 3 years.

What is PGS-India certification and why does it matter? PGS-India (Participatory Guarantee System of India) is a government-recognised organic certification for farmers who sell in India. Unlike third-party certification (which costs several thousand rupees and is complex), PGS certification is done by the farmers themselves — cluster members inspect each other's farms to verify organic practices. A PGS certificate allows you to label your produce as "certified organic" and sell at a premium in local markets, mandis, and online platforms like the National Organic Market.

Will I get ₹50,000 in one go or in instalments? The ₹50,000 per hectare is released in tranches over 3 years, not as a lump sum. The exact year-wise split (e.g., Year 1 / Year 2 / Year 3) depends on the approved project plan and state guidelines. Your BAO will inform you of the payment schedule after project approval.

Can I continue using organic farming only on part of my land and chemical farming on the rest? PKVY requires that the land enrolled in the cluster follows organic practices throughout the 3-year period. However, you can keep separate land outside the cluster under conventional farming. The assistance is only for the PKVY-enrolled portion of your land.

How long does approval take after submitting the application? Approval timelines vary by state and depend on the number of applications in the SLSC pipeline. In general, expect 3 to 6 months from DPR submission to fund release. The BAO can give a more accurate estimate for your state.

Is there any risk of having to return the money if I exit organic farming midway? Yes. If a farmer or cluster does not comply with organic farming norms during the 3-year period, the government can recover funds already disbursed. This is enforced through the PGS peer-inspection system — if cluster members find that someone is using chemical inputs, they must report it to the Regional Council. It is important to commit to organic practices before applying.

Does PKVY cover the cost of organic certification separately, or is it included in the ₹50,000? PGS-India certification costs are included within the ₹50,000/ha financial assistance. You do not need to pay for the certification separately.

I am a woman farmer. Is there any preference for me under PKVY? The scheme does not restrict eligibility based on gender — both men and women farmers are equally eligible. States are encouraged to include women farmers and women SHGs in cluster formation. If you are part of a women's SHG that farms land collectively, the group can form a PKVY cluster as a unit.

Official Links

• PGS-India portal (cluster registration and certification): pgsindia-ncof.gov.in
• Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare: agricoop.gov.in
• National Centre for Organic and Natural Farming: nconf.dac.gov.in
• Kisan Call Centre (toll-free): 1800-180-1551
• National Schemes Portal: myscheme.gov.in

Important: The ₹50,000/ha amount and scheme parameters are as per the latest available notification. Always confirm the current figures and your state's implementation guidelines with your Block Agriculture Officer or at pgsindia-ncof.gov.in before starting the application process.