Lok Sabha Question No. 342 (STARRED), answered on 2026-03-17
Subject: Alternative Crops and Livelihoods for Tobacco Farmers
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Yaduveer Wadiyar

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 342

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 17 TH  MARCH, 2026

## ALTERNATIVE CROPS AND LIVELIHOODS FOR TOBACCO FARMERS

## *342.  SHRI YADUVEER WADIYAR:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government has formulated any developmental or transition plans to promote  alternative  crops  and  livelihoods  for  tobacco  farmers,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b)  the  details  of  the  budgetary  allocations  to  States  during  the  last  five  years  for supporting crop diversification away from tobacco cultivation in the country, Statewise including Karnataka;
- (c)  the area of land shifted from tobacco cultivation to alternative crops during the last five  years  in  the  country  specifically  in  Karnataka,  including  Mysuru  district  where tobacco farming is traditionally prevalent;
- (d)  the major alternative crops and value chains promoted under these programmes such as  millets, oilseeds,  horticulture or allied activities  and  the  extent  of  farmer participation therein; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  region-specific  support  measures  for  tobaccogrowing  districts  like  Mysuru  especially  in  market  linkages,  price  assurance  or processing  infrastructure  to  ensure  a  sustainable  income  transition  for  affected farmers, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e):  A statement is laid on the table of the house.

## STATEMENT IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 342 FOR 17 TH  MARCH, 2026 REGARDING 'ALTERNATIVE CROPS AND LIVELIHOODS FOR TOBACCO FARMERS' .

(a): Yes,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  has  been implementing  the  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP)  since  2015-16,  in  major tobacco growing states including Karnataka with the objective of encouraging farmers to shift from tobacco cultivation to alternative crops and cropping systems. Tobacco growing states can undertake suitable activities and interventions aimed at replacing tobacco with alternative crops or cropping systems, in accordance with the cost norms approved under any Centrally Sponsored Scheme / State Scheme.

(b) & (c): During the last five years, i.e., from 2021-22 to 2025-26, a total of Rs. 48.67 crores  have  been  allocated  to  the  main  tobacco  growing  states  under  the  Crop Diversification Programmer's (CDP) - Tobacco component out of which Rs.10.88 cr. was allocated to the state of Karnataka. State-wise details of fund allocation is enclosed at Annexure - I . The area under tobacco cultivation that has been diverted to alternative crops  under  the  scheme  during  the  last  five  years  in  the  country  is  31,934  Ha.    In Karnataka and especially in Mysuru, the area under tobacco diverted to alternate crops is given below.

| Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   | Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   | Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   | Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   | Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   | Area of tobacco diverted to alternate crops in Karnataka and Mysuru as reported by the state.   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                 | 2021-22                                                                                         | 2022-23                                                                                         | 2023-24                                                                                         | 2024-25                                                                                         | Area: In Ha 2025-26                                                                             |
| Karnataka                                                                                       | 379                                                                                             | 228                                                                                             | 1133                                                                                            | 2011                                                                                            | 2126                                                                                            |
| Mysuru                                                                                          | 180                                                                                             | 116                                                                                             | 101                                                                                             | 227                                                                                             | 879                                                                                             |

(d): Through  the  Crop  Diversification  Programme  (CDP),  the  State  of  Karnataka  is implementing various interventions in the districts of Belagavi, Hassan and Mysuru. In addition  to  organizing  training  programmes  to  create  awareness  among  farmers, demonstrations on alternative field crops such as cereals, millets, pulses, oilseeds and sugarcane  are  being  conducted  through  the  Department  of  Agriculture.  Similarly, Demonstrations on horticultural crops, including mango, banana, spice crops such as ginger  and  turmeric,  and  various  vegetable  crops  are  being  undertaken  through  the Department of Horticulture by the state.

(e): The state government of Karnataka have informed that as part of region- specific support measures for Mysuru, Multi Crop or Sequential Crop based demonstrations such as,  Maize-Fieldbean/Cowpea/Ragi  or  Ragi-Cowpea  are  being  promoted.  Similarly, Integrated Farming System Models inclusive of Water harvesting structures and Field Crops/Trees, Livestock and Fisheries, Apiculture and Silage/Vermicompost are encouraged. To ensure price assurance and promised income to farmers, Government of  Karnataka  is  procuring  Pulses  and  Cereals  from  farmers  at  the  Minimum  Support Prices  (MSP).  Further,  under  the  'Pradhan  Mantri  Formalization  of  Micro  Food Processing  Enterprises  (PMFME)"  Scheme  and  State's  "Karnataka  Raitha  Samrudhi Yojana (KRSY), the Government is promoting processing and post-harvest Infrastructure.

Annexure-I.

## State-wise details of Fund Allocated for Crop Diversification of Tobacco crop.

| Rs. In Lakhs   | Rs. In Lakhs   | Rs. In Lakhs   | Rs. In Lakhs   | Rs. In Lakhs   | Rs. In Lakhs   |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| State          | 2021-22        | 2022-23        | 2023-24        | 2024-25        | 2025-26        |
| Andhra Pradesh | 319            | 319            | 345            | 345            | 320            |
| Bihar*         | 27             | 27             | -              | -              | -              |
| Gujarat        | 302            | 302            | 302            | 302            | -              |
| Karnataka      | 240            | 240            | 244            | 244            | 120            |
| Odisha*        | 4              | 4              | -              | -              | -              |
| Tamil Nadu     | 8              | 8              | 8              | 8              | 8              |
| Telangana      | 16             | 16             | 15             | 15             | 14             |
| Uttar Pradesh  | 57             | 57             | 213            | 213            | 58             |
| West Bengal    | 28             | 28             | 28             | 28             | 35             |

*Funds not allocated as there was no demand from the state .

**********