(a) the details of steps being taken by the Government to promote crop diversification;
(b) whether the Government has tried to gauge the quantifiable impact of these steps;
(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(d) the list of perceived benefits of crop diversification; and
(e) the list of best practices being implemented by different State Governments to promote crop diversification?
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
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(a) to (e): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 225 DUE FOR REPLY ON 14.12.2021 REGARDING “CROP DIVERSIFICATION”.
(a) to (c): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in the Original Green Revolution States viz; Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton etc. 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 given for alternative crops demonstration, farm mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and contingency for awareness and capacity building. CDP aims at demonstrating alternative crops at farmers field and the area brought under demonstrations is 6.32 lakh hectare during 2013-14 to 2020-21.
In addition, Government of India is also supplementing the efforts of state governments to encourage diversified production of crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton & oilseeds under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and horticultural crops under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH). Government of India also provide flexibility to the states for state specific needs/priorities under RKVY. The state can promote crop diversification under RKVY with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed by Chief Secretary of the State.
(d): The diversification towards alternative crops to paddy are more beneficial for sustainable agriculture which promote yield, less amount of resources like water, nutrient etc besides protection to soil and environment by growing alternative crops.
(e): The Government of India conduct demonstrations on various crops at farmers field through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), State Agricultural Universities (SAUs) and ICAR- network. Besides, the States adopt different strategies for existing pattern of crops, as per the priority of the State Government. ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) also suggest the alternative cropping system to states.
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