Parliament Question: Crop Diversification

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 10TH FEBRUARY, 2026 CROP DIVERSIFICATION

1816. DR. DHARAMVIRA GANDHI Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी

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 कृ िष एवं िकसान कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (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, nutri- cereals (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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