Lok Sabha Question No. 3880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Impact of Crop Diversification on Farmers' Income
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rodmal Nagar

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3880

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12 th  August, 2025

## IMPACT OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION ON FARMERS` INCOME

3880.  SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:-

- (a) the  progress  made  in  promoting  crop  diversification  since  2014,  including  the details of crops promoted and their impact on farmers' income;
- (b) the details of financial/technical assistance provided for low water/high-value crops to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in districts like Rajgarh;
- (c) the new technologies and digital platforms which have been introduced for real time advisory and market linkage for diversified crops;
- (d) the measures to promote sustainable agricultural practices including organic/natural farming, efficient water use and the manner under which these contributed to reduce the input costs of farmers; and
- (e) the future roadmap for strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and agri-startups for value addition and export of diversified agricultural produce?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)

(a & b):       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 crop paddy to alternative  crops  like  pulses,  oilseeds,  coarse  cereals,  nutri-cereals,  cotton.  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 being provided to farmers through implementing  state Governments  for  alternate crop  demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and for awareness, training etc. CDP aims at demonstrating alternative crops at farmers' field and the area brought under demonstrations is 6.96 lakh hectare during 2013-14 to 2024-25. However, CDP is not implemented in Madhya Pradesh.

Further, Government  of India is also encouraging farmers through state governments including Madhya Pradesh 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). Under  MIDH,  assistance  is  provided  for  promotion  of  smart  farming  methods  like Protected cultivation, i.e. poly house, green-house, etc to improve the productivity & grow off season high value vegetables and flowers.

(c)     Government is implementing National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), an online trading platform, launched in 2016, which provides market linkage to 1522 APMCs nationwide, real-time  electronic  trading  of  238  diversified  commodities.  It  facilitates  online  trading between farmers, traders & buyers and provide real time information. Government has taken up steps to provide advisory and training through various digital platforms namely mKisan,  Kisan  e-Mitra,  AI-enabled  chatbot  etc  to  reach  out  to  the  farmers  in  all states/UTs.

(d)          The  Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  is  implementing National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), to make agriculture more resilient to the changing climate. Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA to promote sustainability  in  agriculture  in  the  country.  Organic  farming  is  being  promoted  through Paramparagat  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PKVY)  in  all  states  except  North  Eastern  States, where Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is being implemented.

(e)          Central  Sector  Scheme  for  'Formation  and  Promotion  of  10,000  Farmer Producer Organizations' to form & promote FPOs has been implemented since 2020. Under the scheme, FPO management cost of Rs.18 lakh over 5 years is available to each FPO registered under the Scheme. FPO can also avail matching equity grant of upto Rs.15  lakh  per  FPO  (as  against  Rs.2000  contribution  per  farmer).    Additionally,  the scheme  provides  for  credit  guarantee  facility  up  to  Rs.2  crore,  from  eligible  lending institutions. FPOs are supported with training, market linkage & convergence with other government schemes. 5,315 FPOs have been on boarded on ONDC portal for selling their  products.  Government  of  India  is also  implementing  'Innovation  and  AgriEntrepreneurship Development' Programme under PM-RKVY to promote innovation and agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and  nurturing an incubation ecosystem in the country.

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