**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Indian government's initiatives, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, to promote crop diversification, sustainable agricultural practices, and support Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). Key programs include the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM), and National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds). The document highlights progress made since 2014 and future roadmaps for strengthening agricultural practices and infrastructure.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Crop Diversification Programme (CDP):**
* Implemented in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to shift from water-intensive paddy crops to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and cotton.
* Extended to 10 tobacco-growing states from 2015-16 to diversify tobacco crops.
* Provides assistance for crop demonstrations, farm mechanization, value addition, and training.
* Demonstrations covered 6.96 lakh hectares from 2013-14 to 2024-25.
* **National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) & National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds):**
* Encourages farmers to grow pulses, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals (Shree Anna), and oilseeds.
* **Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):**
* Supports smart farming methods like protected cultivation (poly houses, greenhouses) for high-value vegetables and flowers.
* **National Agriculture Market (e-NAM):**
* Online trading platform launched in 2016.
* Links 1522 APMCs nationwide, enabling real-time electronic trading of 238 commodities.
* Facilitates online trading between farmers, traders, and buyers.
* **Digital Platforms:**
* Provides advisory and training through platforms like mKisan, Kisan eMitra, and AI-enabled chatbots.
* **National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA):**
* Aims to enhance climate resilience in agriculture.
* Promotes sustainability through various schemes.
* **Organic Farming:**
* Promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all states except North Eastern States.
* Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) is implemented in North Eastern States.
* **Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):**
* Central Sector Scheme implemented since 2020 to form and promote 10,000 FPOs.
* Provides FPO management cost of Rs. 18 lakh over 5 years.
* Offers matching equity grants up to Rs. 15 lakh per FPO.
* Provides credit guarantee facility up to Rs. 2 crore.
* Supports training, market linkage, and convergence with other government schemes.
* 5,315 FPOs on-boarded on ONDC portal.
* **Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development Programme:**
* Implemented under PMRKVY.
* Promotes innovation and agri-entrepreneurship through financial support and incubation ecosystem.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Increased income through diversified crops, access to better markets via e-NAM and FPOs, reduced input costs via sustainable practices, and enhanced knowledge through digital platforms.
* *Action Required:* Adopt diversified cropping patterns, utilize e-NAM for trading, form or join FPOs, and leverage digital platforms for advisory and training.
**State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing CDP and other schemes, providing assistance to farmers, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
* *Action Required:* Implement CDP effectively, ensure proper fund allocation and utilization, promote organic farming, and facilitate the adoption of new technologies.
**Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs):**
* *Impact:* Enhanced market access, value addition to agricultural produce, and increased bargaining power for farmers.
* *Action Required:* Register under the scheme, utilize available financial assistance, provide training and market linkage to members, and leverage the ONDC portal for selling products.
**Agri-Startups:**
* *Impact:* Opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship in the agriculture sector, access to financial support and incubation ecosystem.
* *Action Required:* Participate in the Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development Programme, develop innovative solutions for agriculture, and leverage available resources for growth.
Key Entities Referenced
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India, mentioned in the context of financial and technical assistance for low water-high-value crops.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana PMRKVY: A Government of India scheme under which the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) is implemented.
Crop Diversification Programme CDP: A program implemented under PMRKVY in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to divert land from water-intensive crops to alternative crops.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission NFSNM: A Government of India mission encouraging farmers to grow crops like pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri cereals.
National Mission on Edible Oil NMEOOilseeds: A Government of India mission encouraging farmers to grow oilseeds.
Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture MIDH: A Government of India mission providing assistance for promotion of smart farming methods like protected cultivation.
National Agriculture Market eNAM: An online trading platform launched in 2016 that provides market linkage to APMCs nationwide.
Farmer Producer Organisations FPOs: Organizations that are being strengthened through a Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs.
O.I.H
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3880
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th August, 2025
IMPACT OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION ON FARMERS` INCOME
3880. SHRI RODMAL NAGAR:
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:-
(a) the progress made in promoting crop diversification since 2014, including the
details of crops promoted and their impact on farmers' income;
(b) the details of financial/technical assistance provided for low water/high-value crops
to farmers in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in districts like Rajgarh;
(c) the new technologies and digital platforms which have been introduced for real
time advisory and market linkage for diversified crops;
(d) the measures to promote sustainable agricultural practices including
organic/natural farming, efficient water use and the manner under which these contributed
to reduce the input costs of farmers; and
(e) the future roadmap for strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and
agri-startups for value addition and export of diversified agricultural produce?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH 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) through State Governments in three states i.e. Punjab,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to primarily divert the area of water intensive crop paddy to
alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, cotton. CDP was
extended to diversifying tobacco crop in 10 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 being provided to farmers
through implementing state Governments for alternate crop demonstration, farm
mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and for awareness, training etc.
CDP aims at demonstrating alternative crops at farmers’ field and the area brought under
demonstrations is 6.96 lakh hectare during 2013-14 to 2024-25. However, CDP is not
implemented in Madhya Pradesh.Further, Government of India is also encouraging farmers through state
governments including Madhya Pradesh 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,
horticultural crops under the Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture (MIDH).
Under MIDH, assistance is provided for promotion of smart farming methods like
Protected cultivation, i.e. poly house, green-house, etc to improve the productivity & grow
off season high value vegetables and flowers.
(c) Government is implementing National Agriculture Market (e-NAM), an online trading
platform, launched in 2016, which provides market linkage to 1522 APMCs nationwide,
real-time electronic trading of 238 diversified commodities. It facilitates online trading
between farmers, traders & buyers and provide real time information. Government has
taken up steps to provide advisory and training through various digital platforms namely
mKisan, Kisan e-Mitra, AI-enabled chatbot etc to reach out to the farmers in all
states/UTs.
(d) The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), to make agriculture more resilient
to the changing climate. Several schemes have been initiated under NMSA to promote
sustainability in agriculture in the country. Organic farming is being promoted through
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all states except North Eastern States,
where Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
(MOVCDNER) is being implemented.
(e) Central Sector Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer
Producer Organizations” to form & promote FPOs has been implemented since 2020.
Under the scheme, FPO management cost of Rs.18 lakh over 5 years is available to each
FPO registered under the Scheme. FPO can also avail matching equity grant of upto
Rs.15 lakh per FPO (as against Rs.2000 contribution per farmer). Additionally, the
scheme provides for credit guarantee facility up to Rs.2 crore, from eligible lending
institutions. FPOs are supported with training, market linkage & convergence with other
government schemes. 5,315 FPOs have been on boarded on ONDC portal for selling
their products. Government of India is also implementing “Innovation and Agri-
Entrepreneurship Development” Programme under PM-RKVY to promote innovation and
agri-entrepreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing an incubation
ecosystem in the country.
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