Lok Sabha Question No. 225 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-14
Subject: Crop Diversification
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Sushil Kumar Singh

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

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. 225

TO BE ANSWER ON THE 14 TH DECEMBER, 2021

## CROP DIVERSIFICATION

- *225.  SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH:

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

- (a) the details of steps being taken by the Government to promote crop diversification;
- (b) whether the Government has tried to gauge the quantifiable impact of these steps;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the list of perceived benefits of crop diversification; and
- (e) the  list  of  best  practices  being  implemented  by  different  State  Governments  to promote crop diversification?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ ष एवं कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR) (a) to (e):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 225 DUE FOR REPLY ON 14.12.2021 REGARDING 'CROP DIVERSIFICATION'.

(a) to (c): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the 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.  CDP  was  extended  to diversifying tobacco crop in 10 tobacco growing states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal from  2015-16.  Under  CDP  assistance  is  given  for  alternative  crops  demonstration,  farm mechanization  and  value  addition,  site  specific  activities  and  contingency  for  awareness and capacity building. CDP aims at demonstrating alternative crops at farmers field and the area brought under demonstrations is 6.32 lakh hectare during 2013-14 to 2020-21.

In addition, Government  of  India  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.

(d):        The  diversification  towards  alternative  crops  to  paddy  are  more  beneficial  for sustainable agriculture which promote yield, less amount of resources like water, nutrient etc besides protection to soil and environment by growing alternative crops.

(e): The Government of India conduct demonstrations on various crops at farmers field through Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras  (KVKs),  State Agricultural  Universities  (SAUs)  and ICARnetwork. Besides, the States adopt different strategies for existing pattern of crops, as per the priority of the State Government.  ICAR-Central  Research  Institute  for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) also suggest the alternative cropping system to states.

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