Lok Sabha Question No. 1816 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-10
Subject: Crop Diversification
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1816

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH  FEBRUARY, 2026

## CROP DIVERSIFICATION

1816.  DR. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI

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

- (a) whether the Government Crop Diversification has assessed the increasing fiscal risk and agrarian stress arising from Punjab's continued over-dependence on the wheat-paddy cropping cycle, which has led to a growing subsidy burden on both the State and the Union Government;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide enhanced and assured fiscal support for crop diversification in Punjab to reduce this dependency, if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

क ृ िष एवं िकसान क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (c): To address the effects of over dependence on the wheat-paddy cropping cycle in  the  original  green  revolution states, the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has been implementing Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) since 2013-14 under Pradhan  Mantri -  Rashtriya  Krishi  Vikas  Yojana  (PM-RKVY).  The  programme  for CDP-Paddy is implemented in Haryana, Punjab and western Uttar Pradesh to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri  cereals,  cotton  etc.  The  main  objective  is  to  promote  the  improved  production technologies of alternate crops for diversion of paddy cultivation and to restore soil fertility.

Under CDP, assistance is given for alternative crop demonstrations, farm mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and contingency for awareness & capacity building etc. The state of Punjab has been covered under the CDP since the inception of the scheme to help the farmers transit out of the wheat-paddy cropping system.

In addition, the Government of India has been encouraging crop diversification among farmers through the state governments to grow crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutricereals  (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).  Pulses  are  now promoted  under  Mission  for  Aatmanirbharta  in  Pulses.  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 Prime Minister -Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana has crop diversification as one of its objectives and  100  aspirational  agricultural  districts  from  allover  the  country  including  Punjab  are covered under the scheme.

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