CROP DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAMMES

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare CROP DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAMMES Posted On: 10 FEB 2026 6:32PM by PIB Delhi The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), which is a centrally sponsored scheme 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 water guzzling paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, etc. The primary objective of the scheme is to demonstrate and promote improved production technologies of alternate crops for diversion of paddy cultivation as well as to restore soil fertility through cultivation of leguminous crops that generate heavy biomass and consume lesser nutrients. Under CDP, assistance is given for alternative crop demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition items, for site specific activities and for awareness, training etc. CDP was extended for replacing 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. From 2018- 19 to 2024–25, Alternate Crop Demonstrations were conducted over a total area of 186546hectares for paddy and tobacco replacement under the CDP. Area diverted from paddy and tobacco under CDPthrough alternative crop demonstrationsis enclosed at Annexure-I.The financial Assistance under CDP is provided & the cost norms are enclosed at Annexure-II. Further, DA&FW has approved a pilot project on “Crop Diversification” for five years (2023-24 to 2027- 28) under NFSNM through the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), Modipuram with a total outlay of Rs.1326.60 lakhs. The Government of India is further encouraging crop diversification among farmers through the state governments to grow crops such as coarse cereals, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), pulses under Mission for Aatmanirbharata on Pulses, 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). Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) scheme covers 100 selected aspirational districts across the country, through convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11 Departments, other State schemes and local partnerships with the private sector. Under PMDDKY, Crop diversification is one of the main objectives which is addressed through their interventions and convergence policies. During the period 2018-19 to 2024-25, the area under food grains cultivation in the country had increased by 127.72 lakh ha. This includes the area under millets’ cultivation, which had also increased by 5.13 lakh ha. Similarly, the area under Oilseeds in the country has also increased by 56.46 lakh ha during the said period. To promote sustainable agriculture practices in the country, several schemes are being implemented to encourage farmers such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), Per Drop More Crop (PDMC), etc. The PDMC scheme increases water use efficiencyat the farm level through micro irrigation technologies i.e. drip and sprinkler irrigation. PKVY & NMNF are implemented for promotion of organic farming and natural farming respectively among the farmers. Annexure -I Area diverted through alternative crop demonstrations under Crop Diversification Programmeduring the year 2013-14 to 2024-25 Year Alternative Crop Demonstrations (ha.) 2013-14 109723 2014-15 196821 2015-16 98537 2016-17 39406 2017-18 65014 2018-19 35345 2019-20 13604 2020-21 73758 2021-22 40593 2022-23 5747 2023-24 14019 2024-25 3480 Total 696047 Annexure -II Pattern of Assistance under Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) a. CDP in Original Green Revolution States Sl. Component/Intervention Rate of Assistance No. 1. Alternate crop demonstrationsi. Pulses Pulse Mission cost norms (Rs.10000/ha) ii. Oilseeds NMEO-Oilseed norms (Groundnut @ Rs.14,000/ha, Soybean @ Rs.10,000/ha, Sunflower @ Rs.9,000/ha, Sesame/Castor/Niger @ Rs.8000/ha) iii. Coarse/Nutri cereals NFSNM norms (i) For variety Rs.7500/ha (ii)For Hybrid of Maize Rs.11500/ha iv. Cotton NFSNM norms Demonstration on Integrated Crop Management (ICM)/ intercropping/ natural colour cotton @ Rs.8000/ha, on Desi & ELS Cotton @ Rs.9000/ha, on HDPS @10000/ha) v. Agro forestry system as sole crop Rs. 10,000/ha vi. Plantation of trees on farm bunds Cost of saplings limited to Rs.2000/ha vii. Inter cropping with agro forestry system Rs. 5000/ha 2. Farm Mechanization &Value Addition According to norms approved under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization / any Centrally Sponsored Scheme / State scheme 3. Site Specific Activities (like underground According to norms approved under any Centrally pipe line, maize dryer, seeds for green Sponsored Scheme / State scheme manuring, etc.) 4. For awareness training, etc. According to norms approved under any Centrally Sponsored Scheme / State scheme b. CDP for replacing tobacco farming with alternate crops/cropping system Tobacco growing States may take up suitable activities/interventions for replacing the tobacco to alternate crops/cropping system as per the cost norms approved under any Centrally Sponsored Scheme/State Scheme. This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today. ****** RC/PU/1649(Release ID: 2225974) Visitor Counter : 173