Lok Sabha Question No. 1576 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Promotion of Crop Diversification
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Dharambir Singh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1576

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29/07/2025

## PROMOTION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION

1576.  SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is promoting crop diversification in water-stressed and water-intensive regions; (b) if  so,  the  States  that  have  implemented  this  initiative  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefore and whether the Government considers it necessary to implement it; (c) whether direct incentives or bonuses are provided to farmers for shifting from paddy to millets or pulses; if so, the details thereof, crop-wise; (d) whether  agricultural  extension  programmes  are  educating  farmers  about  lowwater-use crops; if so, the State-wise details may be provided, especially for Haryana; (e) whether there are specific packages or schemes to promote organic farming and indigenous crop varieties in dry districts; and whether  successful  crop  diversification  stories  have  been  documented  and

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान कल्याण राज्य मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP)  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  -  Rashtriya Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PM-RKVY)  through  State  Governments  in  three  states  i.e. Punjab,  Haryana  and  Uttar  Pradesh  to  primarily  divert  the  area  of  water  intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like  pulses, oilseeds, coarse  cereals, nutri-cereals, cotton.  Under  CDP, assistance  is  being  provided  to  farmers  through implementing state  governments  for  Alternate  Crop  Demonstrations  viz;  for  Pulses  Rs.9000/ha, Maize and Barley Rs.7,500/ha for variety & Rs.11,500/ha for maize hybrid and Nutricereals Rs.7,500/ha.

- (f) replicated in other regions?

Further,  Government  of  India  is  also  encouraging  farmers  through  state governments to grow crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), oilseeds under the National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oilseeds, horticultural crops under the Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture (MIDH). The Government of India provides flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY). The states can promote crop diversification under PM-RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).

(d)  to  (f):    Agricultural  Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA)  Scheme  is  under Implementation  across  the  country  including  Haryana  and  is  aimed  at  creating awareness  among  large  number  of  farmers  about  new  technologies  and  good agriculture  practices.  National  priority  areas  viz;  Crop  Diversification,  Integrated Farming System, Climate-resilient agricultural practices & Natural Farming etc. are being promoted under the scheme.

Organic farming is being promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all the States/UTs except North Eastern States and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the North Eastern States. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing. Primary focus of  the  schemes  is  to  form  organic  clusters,  with  preference  to  small  and  marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. Both the schemes are implemented through States / UT Governments. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 328 Drought tolerant varieties and 1064 rainfed varieties during the year 2014 to 2025.

In addition to CDP, State Government of Haryana has initiated a state scheme 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat' in the year 2020 to diversify the paddy in the all districts of the state.

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