Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is promoting crop diversification in water-stressed regions through various schemes. The Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) provides assistance to farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to shift from water-intensive paddy crops. The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme aims to educate farmers about new technologies and good agricultural practices, including crop diversification and climate-resilient practices.
Key Points / Main Content:
Crop Diversification Programme (CDP):
Implemented in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh under PMRKVY.
Aims to divert area from water-intensive paddy to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and cotton.
Provides assistance to farmers for alternate crop demonstrations: Pulses (Rs.9000/ha), Maize and Barley (Rs.7,500/ha), Maize hybrid (Rs.11,500/ha), and Nutri cereals (Rs.7,500/ha).
States have flexibility to promote crop diversification under PMRKVY with State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) approval.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) and Other Missions:
Encourages farmers to grow pulses, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals (Shree Anna) under NFSNM, oilseeds under the National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds), and horticultural crops under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme:
Implemented across the country, including Haryana.
Creates awareness among farmers about new technologies and good agricultural practices.
Promotes crop diversification, integrated farming systems, climate-resilient agricultural practices, and natural farming.
Organic Farming Promotion:
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) promotes organic farming in all States/UTs except North Eastern States.
Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER) focuses on North Eastern States.
Both schemes provide end-to-end support, from production to processing, certification, and marketing, with a focus on forming organic clusters with small and marginal farmers.
Drought and Rainfed Varieties:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) developed 328 drought-tolerant and 1064 rainfed varieties between 2014 and 2025.
State-Level Initiatives:
Haryana initiated "Mera Pani Meri Virasat" in 2020 to diversify paddy crops in all districts.
Impact Analysis:
Farmers:
Impact: Receive assistance for crop diversification, education on new technologies, and support for organic farming.
Action Required: Participate in demonstration programs, adopt new technologies, and consider shifting to alternative crops.
State Governments (Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh):
Impact: Responsible for implementing the CDP and other schemes.
Action Required: Administer CDP, approve crop diversification plans through SLSC, and implement ATMA scheme.
All States/UTs (except North Eastern for PKVY):
Impact: Responsible for implementing PKVY and promoting organic farming.
Action Required: Form organic clusters, provide end-to-end support to farmers engaged in organic farming.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):
Impact: Contributes by developing drought-tolerant and rainfed crop varieties.
Action Required: Continue research and development of climate-resilient crop varieties.
Key Entities Referenced
Crop Diversification Programme CDP: A program under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) implemented by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare (DAFW) through State Governments to divert area from water-intensive paddy crop to alternative crops.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana PMRKVY: A Government of India scheme under which the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) is implemented, providing flexibility to states for promoting crop diversification based on their specific needs and priorities.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission NFSNM: A Government of India mission to encourage farmers to grow crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri cereals.
National Mission on Edible Oil NMEOOilseeds: A Government of India mission to encourage farmers to grow oilseeds.
Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture MIDH: A Government of India mission to encourage farmers to grow horticultural crops.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency ATMA: A scheme implemented across the country, including Haryana, aimed at creating awareness among farmers about new technologies and good agricultural practices, including crop diversification.
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana PKVY: A scheme promoting organic farming in all States/UTs except North Eastern States.
Haryana: A state in India where specific initiatives like the 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat' scheme are implemented to promote crop diversification, and where agricultural extension programs are educating farmers about low water-use crops.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1576
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29/07/2025
PROMOTION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION
1576. SHRI DHARAMBIR SINGH
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 promoting crop diversification in water-stressed and
water-intensive regions;
(b) if so, the States that have implemented this initiative and if not, the reasons
therefore and whether the Government considers it necessary to implement it;
(c) whether direct incentives or bonuses are provided to farmers for shifting from
paddy to millets or pulses; if so, the details thereof, crop-wise;
(d) whether agricultural extension programmes are educating farmers about low-
water-use crops; if so, the State-wise details may be provided, especially for Haryana;
(e) whether there are specific packages or schemes to promote organic farming and
indigenous crop varieties in dry districts; and
(f) whether successful crop diversification stories have been documented and
replicated in other regions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान कल्याण राज्य मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAM NATH THAKUR)
(a) to (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 in three states i.e.
Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to primarily divert the area of water intensive
paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals,
cotton. Under CDP, assistance is being provided to farmers through implementing
state governments for Alternate Crop Demonstrations viz; for Pulses Rs.9000/ha,
Maize and Barley Rs.7,500/ha for variety & Rs.11,500/ha for maize hybrid and Nutri-
cereals Rs.7,500/ha.Further, Government of India is also encouraging farmers through 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, horticultural crops under the Mission
for Integrated Development of horticulture (MIDH). The Government of India 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 PM-RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC).
(d) to (f): Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under
Implementation across the country including Haryana and is aimed at creating
awareness among large number of farmers about new technologies and good
agriculture practices. National priority areas viz; Crop Diversification, Integrated
Farming System, Climate-resilient agricultural practices & Natural Farming etc. are
being promoted under the scheme.
Organic farming is being promoted through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
(PKVY) in all the States/UTs 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 engaged in 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. Both the schemes are implemented through States
/ UT Governments. Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 328
Drought tolerant varieties and 1064 rainfed varieties during the year 2014 to 2025.
In addition to CDP, State Government of Haryana has initiated a state scheme
“Mera Pani Meri Virasat” in the year 2020 to diversify the paddy in the all districts of
the state.
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