**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing initiatives to encourage crop diversification from Kharif paddy to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, and coarse cereals. The Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) and National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) along with other schemes provide assistance and flexibility to states. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) conduct awareness and training programs. The government ensures fair prices and market access through Minimum Support Prices (MSPs), eNAM, and support for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs).
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Crop Diversification Program (CDP):**
* Implemented in Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert Kharif paddy areas.
* Extended from 2015-16 to major tobacco-growing states for tobacco crop diversification.
* Provides assistance for demonstrations, farm mechanization, value addition, and training.
* **National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds), and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):**
* Encourage farmers to grow pulses, coarse cereals, millets, nutri-cereals, oilseeds, and horticultural crops.
* **Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY):**
* Provides flexibility to states for promoting crop diversification based on their specific needs and priorities.
* Requires approval from the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).
* **Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs):**
* 731 KVKs established across the country, including 89 in Uttar Pradesh.
* Promote new agricultural technologies, including coarse grains and oilseeds, through assessments, demonstrations, and capacity development.
* **Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme:**
* Supports state governments in creating awareness about new technologies and practices.
* Covers areas like crop diversification, integrated farming systems, and climate-resilient agriculture.
* **Minimum Support Prices (MSPs):**
* Fixed for 22 mandated agricultural crops, including coarse cereals, pulses, and oilseeds.
* **Market Access Improvement:**
* Promotes private markets, farmer-consumer markets, and direct wholesale purchases.
* Expands eNAM outreach and promotes commodity-specific FPOs for oilseeds and millets.
* Strengthens post-harvest and marketing infrastructure under schemes like AMI, AIF, and RKVY.
* **Procurement and Value Chain:**
* States can procure coarse grains at MSP under the central pool with prior approval from the Government of India.
* Oilseed procurement is made at MSP under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PMAASHA).
* Supports post-harvest infrastructure for oilseeds under the National Mission on Edible Oils - Oilseeds (NMEO-OS).
**Impact Analysis**
**Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Encouraged to diversify crops, especially in Uttar Pradesh, with potential for increased income and improved market access.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs, adopt new technologies, and engage with FPOs to leverage market opportunities.
**State Governments (including Uttar Pradesh):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing crop diversification programs and creating awareness among farmers.
* *Action Required:* Utilize PMRKVY funds, approve crop diversification plans through SLSC, and collaborate with KVKs and ATMA.
**Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs):**
* *Impact:* Play a crucial role in technology assessment, demonstration, and capacity development related to crop diversification.
* *Action Required:* Conduct training programs and demonstrations to educate farmers about the benefits of diversifying to coarse grains and oilseeds.
**Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for creating awareness and disseminating information about new agricultural technologies and practices.
* *Action Required:* Organize farmer training, demonstrations, exposure visits, and farm schools to promote crop diversification.
**Food Corporation of India (FCI):**
* *Impact:* Involved in the procurement of coarse grains at MSP under the central pool.
* *Action Required:* Coordinate with state governments for the procurement, allocation, distribution, and disposal of coarse grains.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare, overseeing policies and programs related to the agricultural sector.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of promoting coarse grains, millets and oilseeds cultivation.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY): A flagship scheme of the Indian government aimed at strengthening agricultural infrastructure and promoting holistic agricultural development.
Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): A program implemented under PMRKVY to divert area from Kharif paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM): A mission to increase the production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and nutri cereals to ensure food and nutrition security.
National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds): A mission focused on increasing the production of oilseeds to reduce import dependence.
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs): Agricultural extension centers established by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to disseminate agricultural technologies and provide training to farmers.
Minimum Support Prices (MSPs): The price at which the government purchases crops from farmers to protect them from price fluctuations.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 328
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12TH AUGUST, 2025
DIVERSIFICATION OF KHARIF CULTIVATION
*328. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA PAL
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 is taking steps to encourage farmers to diversify Kharif
cultivation by including coarse grains and oilseeds along with paddy;
(b) if so, the details of schemes or incentives available to promote the cultivation of
coarse grains, millets and oilseeds during the Kharif season, especially in Uttar
Pradesh;
(c) whether the Government is conducting awareness or training programmes through
Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or agricultural universities to educate farmers about
the agronomic and economic benefits of such diversification, if so, the details thereof;
and
(d) whether the Government has taken steps to ensure fair procurement prices, market
access and value chain support for coarse grains and oilseed crops and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)
(a) to (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 328 FOR 12TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING
“DIVERSIFICATION OF KHARIF CULTIVATION”
(a) to (d) 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 &
Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area of Kharif paddy crop to alternative crops like
pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, etc. CDP was extended for diversifying
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. Under CDP, assistance is given for alternative crop demonstration, farm
mechanization and value addition items, site specific activities and for awareness, training
etc.
Further, Government of India is encouraging farmers through the state governments
including Uttar Pradesh to grow crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, millets, 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). 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 Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has set up 731 Krishi Vigyan
Kendras (KVKs) in the country including 89 KVKs in Uttar Pradesh to promote adoption of
new technologies of agriculture and allied sectors (including coarse grains and oilseeds of
Kharif seasons) through technology assessment, demonstration and capacity development
among the extension functionaries of state governments and farmers. The Agricultural
Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is being implemented across the
country including Uttar Pradesh and is aimed at supporting State Government’s efforts in
creating awareness among large number of farmers about new technologies and good
agricultural practices in different thematic areas of agriculture and allied areas, including
Crop Diversification, Integrated Farming System, Climate-resilient agricultural practices &
Natural Farming etc. through different extension activities viz; Farmers Training,
Demonstrations, Exposure Visits, Kisan Mela, Mobilization of Farmers Groups and
Organizing Farm Schools etc.The Government fixes minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 mandated agricultural
crops including coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds etc to ensure remunerative prices to the
growers for their produce. To improve the farmers’ market access for agricultural produce,
including coarse cereals and oilseed crops, the Government has taken many steps, namely
(i) promoting the establishment of private markets, farmer-consumer markets, direct
wholesale purchases by processors/ exporters/other bulk buyers from farm gate and
declaring warehouses as market-yard; (ii) expanding outreach of e-NAM in the mandis and
beyond the mandis and (iii) promoting FPOs, specially commodity specific FPOs for
oilseed and millets to provide the market linkage to the farmer-members of these FPOs.
Apart from this, the Government is also strengthening post-harvest and marketing
infrastructure under various schemes namely Agricultural Marketing Infrastructure (AMI)
under the Integrated Scheme for Agricultural Marketing (ISAM) scheme, Agriculture
Infrastructure Fund (AIF) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).
As per Guidelines of Department of Food and Public Distribution on procurement,
allocation, distribution and disposal of coarse grains, States are allowed to procure Jowar,
Bajra, Maize, Barley, Ragi and six minor millets from farmers at MSP under the central pool
subject to the prior approval of Government of India, in consultation with Food Corporation
of India (FCI). Procurement of oilseeds is made at MSP under the scheme “Pradhan Mantri
- Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan” (PM-AASHA) of DA&FW. Under the National Mission
on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), over 600 Value Chain Clusters have been identified
across the country. In addition, the mission supports Government/Private industries, FPOs
and cooperatives for setting up post-harvest infrastructure including improving the capacity
or efficiency of existing infrastructure, for increasing the efficiency of oilseed collection, oil
extraction & recovery.
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