Lok Sabha Question No. 328 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Diversification of Kharif Cultivation
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Jagdambika Pal

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 328

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 TH  AUGUST, 2025

## DIVERSIFICATION OF KHARIF CULTIVATION

## *328.  SHRI  JAGDAMBIKA PAL

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  taking  steps  to  encourage  farmers  to  diversify  Kharif cultivation by including coarse grains and oilseeds along with paddy;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  schemes  or  incentives  available  to  promote  the  cultivation  of coarse  grains,  millets  and  oilseeds  during  the  Kharif  season,  especially  in  Uttar Pradesh;
- (c) whether the Government is conducting awareness or training programmes through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or agricultural universities to educate farmers about the agronomic and economic benefits of such diversification, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure fair procurement prices, market access and value chain support for coarse grains and oilseed crops and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 328 FOR 12 TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING 'DIVERSIFICATION OF KHARIF CULTIVATION'

(a) to (d) 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) in the Original Green Revolution States viz; Haryana, Punjab & Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area of Kharif paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses,  oilseeds,  coarse  cereals,  nutri  cereals,  etc.  CDP  was  extended  for  diversifying tobacco  crop  in  the  major  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 crop demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition items, site specific activities and for awareness, training etc.

Further, Government of India is encouraging farmers through the state governments including Uttar Pradesh to grow crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, millets, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition  Mission (NFSNM), oilseeds under the National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oilseeds and horticultural crops under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). The Government of India also 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 the PM-RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) in the country including 89 KVKs in Uttar Pradesh to promote adoption of new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors (including coarse grains and oilseeds of Kharif seasons) through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development among the  extension  functionaries  of  state  governments  and  farmers.  The  Agricultural Technology  Management  Agency  (ATMA)  Scheme  is  being  implemented  across  the country including Uttar Pradesh and is aimed at supporting State Government's efforts in creating  awareness  among large  number of  farmers  about new technologies and  good agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas, including Crop Diversification, Integrated Farming System, Climate-resilient agricultural practices & Natural Farming etc. through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training, Demonstrations,  Exposure  Visits,  Kisan  Mela,  Mobilization  of  Farmers  Groups  and Organizing Farm Schools etc.

The Government fixes minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural crops including coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds etc to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce. To improve the farmers' market access for agricultural produce, including coarse cereals and oilseed crops, the Government has taken many steps, namely (i)  promoting  the  establishment  of  private  markets,  farmer-consumer  markets,  direct wholesale  purchases  by  processors/  exporters/other  bulk  buyers  from  farm  gate  and declaring warehouses as market-yard; (ii) expanding outreach of e-NAM in the mandis and beyond  the  mandis  and  (iii)  promoting    FPOs,  specially  commodity  specific  FPOs  for oilseed and millets to provide the market linkage to the farmer-members of these FPOs. Apart  from  this,  the  Government  is  also  strengthening  post-harvest  and  marketing infrastructure under various schemes namely Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) under  the  Integrated  Scheme  for  Agricultural  Marketing  (ISAM)  scheme,  Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

As per Guidelines of Department of Food and Public Distribution on procurement, allocation, distribution and disposal of coarse grains, States are allowed to procure Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Barley, Ragi and six minor millets from farmers at MSP under the central pool subject to the prior approval of Government of India, in consultation with Food Corporation of India (FCI). Procurement of oilseeds is made at MSP under the scheme 'Pradhan Mantri - Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan' (PM-AASHA) of DA&FW. Under the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), over 600 Value Chain Clusters have been identified across the country. In addition, the mission supports Government/Private industries, FPOs and cooperatives for setting up post-harvest infrastructure including improving the capacity or efficiency of existing infrastructure, for increasing the efficiency of oilseed collection, oil extraction & recovery.

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