This document summarizes the Indian government's policy on promoting crop diversification in semi-arid districts, as outlined in response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 384 on July 22, 2025. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DAFW) is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PMRKVY) in Haryana, Punjab, and western Uttar Pradesh. The program aims to shift land away from water-intensive paddy cultivation towards alternative crops such as pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, and cotton.
In Haryana, the CDP covers ten districts: Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Karnal, Kaithal, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Panipat, Kurukshetra, and Sonipat. The CDP provides assistance for alternative crop demonstrations, farm mechanization and value addition, site-specific activities, awareness campaigns, and training programs.
The Government of India supports state efforts to promote less water-intensive crops through the National Food Security Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) for pulses, coarse cereals, and nutri-cereals (Shree Anna); the National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO-Oilseeds) for oilseeds; and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for horticultural crops. The PMRKVY also offers states flexibility to address specific needs and priorities, subject to approval by the State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC). The Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) scheme has been implemented nationwide since 2005 to raise awareness among farmers regarding new technologies. As of the date of this response, DAFW has not received any district-specific proposals from the State Government of Haryana under the CDP.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare: A department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, responsible for implementing agricultural policies and programs.
Crop Diversification Programme: A program implemented by the Department of Agriculture Farmers Welfare DAFW under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana PMRKVY, aimed at diverting land from water-intensive crops like paddy to alternative crops.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana: A 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.
Haryana: A state in India where the Crop Diversification Programme is being implemented in 10 districts.
National Food Security Nutrition Mission: A mission to encourage farmers to grow less water intensive crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals.
National Mission on Edible Oil: A mission to encourage farmers to grow oilseeds.
Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture: A mission to encourage farmers to grow horticultural crops.
Agricultural Technology Management Agency: A scheme aimed at creating awareness among farmers about new technologies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 384
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2025
PROMOTION OF CROP DIVERSIFICATION IN SEMI-ARID DISTRICTS
384. 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 semi-arid districts
like Mahendragarh and Biwani;
(b) if so, the schemes under which the support is being extended to farmers;
(c) whether any awareness programmes have been conducted to train farmers on
low-water-requirement crops;
(d) the details of incentives available for shifting from traditional crops like wheat
and paddy to pulses, millets and oilseeds; and
(e) whether the State of Haryana has submitted any district-specific proposals for
inclusion in such programmes?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
कृ िष एवं िकसान क(cid:670)ाण रा(cid:475) मं(cid:361)ी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)
(a) to (e): 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
namely 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, cotton. In Haryana state, 10 districts namely Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, Karnal,
Kaithal, Jind, Fatehabad, Sirsa, Panipat, Kurukshetra and Sonipat have been covered
under the Crop Diversification Programme. Under CDP, assistance is given for
alternative crop demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition, site specific
activities and for awareness, training etc.Further, Government of India is supplementing the efforts of state governments
to encourage farmers to grow less water intensive crops such as pulses, coarse
cereals, nutri cereals (Shree Anna) under National Food Security & Nutrition Mission
(NFSNM), oilseeds under National Mission on Edible Oil (NMEO)-Oilseeds,
horticultural crops under Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture (MIDH).
The Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific
needs/priorities under 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).
Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) Scheme is under
Implementation across the country since 2005 aimed at creating awareness among
large number of farmers about new technologies. District-specific proposals has not
been received from State Government of Haryana by DA&FW under CDP.
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