(a) whether the Government have a proposal to diversify cropping pattern in the drought
affected States and particularly in Orissa;
(b) if so, the details of proposals received from various States including Orissa by the Centre;
and
(c) the steps taken by the Government to implement these proposals?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a) to (c): As a part of national policy, the Government has been emphasizing crop
diversification keeping in view the soil health problems being encountered by growing
exhaustive crops like cereals followed by cereals. This is intended to conserve the natural
resources with sustainability in agriculture. No specific proposal for diversification in the
context of drought has been received from Orissa or any other state.