The state has received Rs 60 crore for the financial year 2007-08, for implementing RKVY. If it can utilise the fund within the stipulated time it can claim Rs 500 crore from the Centre for the next financial year under this project.
The secretary agriculture, Mr Sanjiv Chopra said, the state will be able to utilise the fund on time.

The objective of RKVY is to increase growth and yield rate in agricultural sector. It wants to achieve a growth rate of at least 4 per cent. At present the rate is 1.5 per cent at the national level. According to the officials though the growth rate in West Bengal is better than that at the national level it is gradually decreasing. While addressing today's meeting, a top official said the reason behind the drop in the rate is because the farmers cannot use the latest technologies in this sector.

The state has directed all districts to prepare their own plans on agricultural development by 7 December before attending the meeting. Top officials including district magistrates and sabhadhipaties of the four districts ~ Malda, Murshidabad, north and south Dinajpur ~ today attended the meeting convened by the secretary agriculture in Malda.

The officials will cover other districts in north and south Bengal and soon inform them about the programme of RKVY so that they can prepare their plans by 7 December. The district officials have been directed to maintain coordination with other concerned departments like agriculture, irrigation, horticulture, animal resources, agriculture marketing and others to chalk out the district's plans, keeping in consideration the basic needs required to develop the agriculture sector, as well as the socio-economy in under developed villages.