Lok Sabha Question No. 2427 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-09
Subject: Crop Diversification
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2427

TO BE ANSWER ON THE 9 TH  MARCH, 2021

## CROP DIVERSIFICATION

2427. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

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

- (a) the steps taken by the Government in the last five years to encourage crop diversification and shift to less water-intensive crops;
- (b) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  encourage  shift  from  water-intensive crops to devoting land to dairy farming in the same period;
- (c) whether the export of crops is having an adverse effect on the groundwater levels in the country since these crops are more water-intensive;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  considered  promoting  the  growth  of  waterintensive crops in States that have higher groundwater levels; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

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

- (a) : The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) is implementing  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP),  a  sub-scheme  of  Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY) in the Original  Green  Revolution  States viz;  Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals,

cotton etc.

DAC&FW  is  also supplementing the efforts of state governments to encourage  diversified  production  of  crops  such  as  pulses,  coarse  cereals,  nutri cereals,  cotton  &  oilseeds  under  National  Food  Security  Mission  (NFSM)  and horticultural crops under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Government  of India also provide flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under RKVY. The state can promote crop diversification under RKVY with  the  approval  of  State  Level  Sanctioning  Committee  (SLSC)  headed  by  Chief Secretary of the State.

(b) : Under  CDP,  the  farmers  are  encouraged  to  undertake  alternative  crops  to paddy which have less water requirement. No such provision exists to devote land to dairy farming under CDP. (c) : The  crops  like  paddy  and  sugarcane  are  water  intensive.  The  surplus production of rice including basmati rice and sugar are exported. In view of higher water use by these crops, the Government has launched CDP for replacing paddy in select  States  and  popularizing  of  water  saving  technology  viz;  System  of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Directed Seeded Rice (DSR) in paddy, incentives on water saving  devices  like  drip  and  sprinkler  etc.  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY),  RKVY  and  various  other  schemes  which  provide  support  to  the states for efficient water use technologies. (d) &  (e):  Bringing  Green  Revolution  to  Eastern  India  (BGREI), a  sub  scheme  of Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (RKVY)  is  being  implemented  in  Eastern  India comprising  seven  States  namely  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Jharkhand,  Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to harness the water potential for enhancing rice production in Eastern India which was hitherto underutilized. Besides, National Food Security Mission (NFSM) is also being implemented in these Eastern States for increasing production and productivity of wheat and rice in the districts which are not included under BGREI.

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