O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 324
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025
CULTIVATION OF LESS WATER-INTENSIVE CROPS
324. SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to...
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 324 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025 CULTIVATION OF LESS WATER-INTENSIVE CROPS
324. SMT. MAHIMA KUMARI MEWAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण म(cid:287)ं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has initiated any policy measures to promote cultivation of less water-intensive crops and to create awareness among farmers regarding various water management techniques for agriculture in the country, including Rajasthan; and
(b) if so, the details thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE कृ(cid:874)ष एवं (cid:873)कसान क(cid:227)याण रा(cid:207)य मं(cid:287)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) & (b): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare ( DA&FW) is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under the Pradhan Mantri- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) in the Original Green Revolution States viz; 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 (shree anna) etc. Under the CDP, assistance is given for alternative crops demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition, site-specific activities, awareness, farmers training etc.
The DA&FW also supplements the efforts of state governments including Rajasthan to encourage diversified production of crops such as pulses, coarse cereals and nutri-cereals (shree anna) under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), oilseeds under the National Mission on Edible Oil-Oilseeds (NMEO-OS) 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 PM-RKVY. The states can promote less water intensive crops under the PM-RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by the Chief Secretary of the respective states.
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