Lok Sabha Question No. 3662 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-10
Subject: Cultivation of Maize in Punjab
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Manish Tewari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, COOPERATION AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3662

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  10 TH  DECEMBER, 2019

## CULTIVATION OF MAIZE IN PUNJAB

## 3662.  SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is aware that on account of fast  depletion  of  water  level  in  Punjab  due  to  paddy  cultivation,  the  State  Government  of Punjab is encouraging the cultivation of maize as a substitute of paddy and thereby maize is being grown in 1,60,000 hectares this year which will produce maize around six lakh metric tonnes grains yearly;
- (b) if so, whether the Ministry realizes that for the procurement of maize in Punjab, MSP for maize should be implemented like it is for the paddy and wheat;
- (c) if so, whether the implementation of MSP for procurement of maize would be started in Punjab; and
- (d) if so, whether the Ministry will oblige to start it from the next fiscal?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी ( SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a): The Government of India is implementing national Food Security Mission (NFSM)Maize in 237 districts of 25 States and 2 Union Territories including three districts of Punjab Namely Hoshiarpur, Shahid Bhagat Singh Nagar (SBS Nagar) and Ropar. Under NFSMMaize programme, assistance is being provided to the farmers for demonstrations and seed distribution for increasing the production through area expansion and productivity enhancement.

Besides, Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) is being implemented in Original Green Revolution  states  viz,  Punjab,  Haryana  and  western  Uttar  Pradesh  as  a  sub-scheme  of Rastriya Krishi Vikash Yojana (RKVY) since 2013-14 to divert the area of water guzzling paddy crop to alternate crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals including maize, nutricereals, cotton and agro-forestry. Under the scheme, scientific crop production technologies

are being promoted at farmers' field through organization of alternate crop demonstrations and  training  of  farmers.  Under  CDP,  assistance  is  being  provided  on  farm  implements including  maize  dryer,  maize  sheller,  maize  thresher  and  efficient  water  application tools/technologies etc. which can support diversification of paddy crop to alternate crops.

The State Government of Punjab has informed that they are encouraging the farmers for cultivation of maize in place of paddy to save underground water.

(b) to (d): Department of Food and Public Distribution has a policy for procurement of coarse  grains  including  maize  wherein  states  are  allowed  to  procure  these  commodities from  farmers  at  Minimum  Support  Price  (MSP)  under  central  pool  subject  to  the  prior approval  of  Government  of  India  on  detailed  procurement  Plan  prepared  by  state governments in consultation with Food Corporation of India (FCI).

State  Government  of  Punjab  informed  that  the  procurement  of  Maize  should  be implemented like paddy and wheat in the Punjab State. However, Department of Food and Public Distribution is willing to support state Government of Punjab in this regard on receipt of proposal.

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