Parliament Question: Alternative Crops and Livelihoods for Tobacco Farmers

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 17TH 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, State- wise 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 tobacco- growing 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 कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (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 17TH 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: In Ha 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 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 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. **********