Lok Sabha Question No. 298 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Scheme to promote Drought Resistant Crops
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Gyaneshwar Patil

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 298

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE  22 ND  JULY, 2025

## SCHEME TO PROMOTE DROUGHT RESISTANT CROPS

298. SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL:

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

- (a) whether the Government has launched any special scheme to promote drought resistant crops in drought-prone areas of Madhya Pradesh;
- (b) if so, the details of adoption and success rate of the scheme; and
- (c) the  measures  being  taken  to  conserve  water  and  enhance  irrigation  facilities  for farmers in drought-prone areas in the State of Madhya Pradesh?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

कृ ͪष एवं ͩकसान कãयाण राÏय मंğी (SHRI  RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) & (b): Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  implementing Rainfed Area Development (RAD) across the country, including Madhya Pradesh, from 201415 as a component of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). RAD focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with  climatic  variability.  Under  RAD,  crops/cropping  system  is  integrated  with  activities  like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc. to enable farmers, in maximizing farm  returns  for  sustaining  livelihood  and  also  to  mitigate  the  impacts  of  drought,  flood  or other extreme weather events. So far, 0.22 lakh hectare rainfed area has been brought under IFS in the State of Madhya Pradesh with expenditure of Rs.  46.50 crore under RAD.

Indian  Council  of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  demonstrated  various  drought  tolerant crops and varieties   in Morena, Bhind, Datia, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Ratlam, Jhabua and Dindori  of  Madhya  Pradesh,  besides,  demonstration  of  climate  resilient  technologies.  The details of various drought   tolerant varieties demonstrated in Madhya Pradesh are   soybean (JS 9560), chickpea (RVG-201, JG-130, RVG-202), sesame (TKG-308, TS-8, TKG-306, JTS8), mustard (Pusa Bold/Giriraj), groundnut (JGN-3, 23 and GG-20), short duration black gram varieties  (IPU-94-1,  PU-31,  Shekhar-2,  Pratap  urd  -1,  PU-35),  short  duration  drought escaping paddy (PUSA1121). In addition, Maize + Soybean intercropping for risk minimization, Crop diversification through vegetables production from harvested water is also demonstrated.

(c): Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is being implemented since 2015-16. PDMC focuses on enhancing water use efficiency at farm level through Micro Irrigation namely; Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation Systems. Under PDMC, since the inception of the Scheme of 4.365 lakh ha has been covered under Micro Irrigation in   Madhya Pradesh. Central assistance of Rs.1170.26 crore have been released to the State of Madhya Pradesh since 2015-16. Government   is also providing subsidy to rainfed area farmers for protective irrigation through farm ponds, wells, drip, sprinkler, pipes and pumps under various centrally sponsored schemes like Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), PDMC, Watershed  Development  Component  of  Pradhan  Mantri  Krishi  Sinchayee  Yojana  (WDCPMKSY) etc.

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