Executive Summary:
This document addresses Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 370, answered on August 19, 2025, regarding the promotion of agricultural diversification in India. It details government initiatives to increase agricultural production and productivity, encourage diversification towards less water-intensive crops and horticulture, and promote organic farming in specific states and union territories. The report includes data on clusters and area covered under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) as of June 30, 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
Agricultural Production and Productivity:
* The Government of India is implementing key schemes to promote the latest varieties, technologies, and practices in agriculture.
* The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed and released 3053 field crop varieties since 2014.
* ICAR shares innovations in climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, soil health management, and precision farming.
* The Digital Agriculture Mission leverages AI, Big Data, and geospatial data for improved crop monitoring, soil management, and weather forecasting.
Agricultural Diversification:
* The Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) encourages diverting paddy areas to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutricereals, and cotton.
* The government supports farmers in growing pulses, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals (Shree Anna), and oilseeds under the National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and the National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds).
* Pulses and oilseeds are procured at MSP under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM AASHA) scheme.
* 100% procurement of Tur, Urad, and Masur is sanctioned under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM AASHA since 2023-24.
* The Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) promotes horticulture crops.
Promotion of Organic Farming:
* Organic farming is promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) in all States/UTs (except North Eastern States) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER).
* Both schemes provide end-to-end support from production to processing, certification, and marketing.
* The primary focus is on forming organic clusters, with preference given to small and marginal farmers.
* Cluster and Area details as of 30.06.2025 under PKVY:
* Madhya Pradesh: 3868 clusters, 74,960 hectares
* Maharashtra: 2978 clusters, 66,756 hectares
* Dadar and Nagar Haveli: 25 clusters, 500 hectares
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
* Impact: Farmers benefit from increased access to advanced technologies, diversified cropping options, and support for organic farming, potentially leading to higher yields and income.
* Action Required: Farmers should engage with state government programs and initiatives to adopt new technologies, diversify crops, and participate in organic farming schemes.
State Governments:
* Impact: State governments are responsible for implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) and supporting farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
* Action Required: State governments should actively promote crop diversification, facilitate access to resources and training, and ensure effective implementation of organic farming schemes like PKVY.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
* Impact: ICAR plays a crucial role in developing and disseminating new crop varieties and innovative agricultural practices.
* Action Required: Continue research and development efforts to enhance crop productivity, promote climate-resilient agriculture, and support sustainable farming practices.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for agriculture and farmers' welfare.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the starred question was addressed.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research ICAR: An autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India responsible for agricultural research and education.
Digital Agriculture Mission: A Government of India initiative leveraging technologies like AI, Big Data, and geospatial data for agriculture.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana PMRKVY: An umbrella scheme aiming to achieve agricultural development in India.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission NFSNM: A Government of India initiative to increase the production of nutri cereals including pulses, coarse cereals, Shree Anna.
National Mission on Edible Oil NMEOOilseeds: A Government of India initiative to promote the production of oilseeds.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: An initiative to promote organic farming in India, excluding North Eastern States.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 370
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 19TH AUGUST, 2025
PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION
*370. DR. SHIVAJI BANDAPPA KALGE
SHRI GYANESHWAR PATIL
Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) the latest technologies and practices being promoted by the Government to
increase agricultural production and productivity in various States of the country;
(b) whether the Government is taking any steps to encourage diversification in
agriculture particularly to promote less water intensive crops and horticulture;
(c) if so, the details thereof in the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT
of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, city-wise; and
(d) the details of plans to promote organic farming in the States of Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, district-wise?
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. 370 FOR 19TH AUGUST, 2025 REGARDING
“PROMOTION OF AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION”.
(a): The Government of India is implementing several key schemes in the
Agriculture sector to promote latest varieties, technologies and practices to increase
production and productivity in the country. Indian Council of Agricultural Research
(ICAR) have developed, released and notified a total of 3053 field crop varieties from
the year 2014. ICAR is at the forefront in sharing innovations/best practices in areas
including climate-resilient agriculture, crop diversification, Soil Health Management
and precision farming. The Digital Agriculture Mission, is a major initiative that
leverages technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, and geospatial data
for better crop monitoring, soil management, and weather forecasting.
(b) & (c): 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 to primarily
divert the area of water intensive crop paddy to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds,
coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, cotton.
The Government of India is also encouraging and supporting farmers through
the state governments, including Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, to grow crops
such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) under the National Food
Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and oilseeds under the National Mission on
Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oilseeds. In addition, the procurement of pulses and oilseeds is
made at MSP under the Pradhan Mantri- Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-
AASHA) scheme of DA&FW. In order to enhance the domestic production of Tur, Urad
and Masur, 100 percent procurement under Price Support Scheme (PSS) of PM-
AASHA scheme is being sanctioned since 2023-24. The Mission for Integrated
Development of Horticulture (MIDH) also promotes horticulture crops for holistic
growth of the sector in the country and this scheme covers states/UTs including
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
(d): Organic farming is being promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
(PKVY) in all the States/UTs including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and UT of
Dadar and Nagar Haveli since 2015-16 except North Eastern States and Mission
Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) for the
North Eastern States. Both schemes stress on end-to-end support to farmers engagedin organic farming i.e. from production to processing, certification and marketing.
Primary focus of the schemes is to form organic clusters, with preference to small and
marginal farmers, to create a supply chain. The details of number of clusters and area
covered under PKVY in the state of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and UT of Dadar
and Nagar Haveli since 2015-16 (as on 30.06.2025) are as under:
State/UT No. of Clusters Area (Hectares)
Madhya Pradesh 3868 74,960
Maharashtra 2978 66,756
Dadar and Nagar 25 500
Haveli
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