QUESTION

(a) whether any measures have been taken by the ministry for incentivising crop
substitution and diversification in the states of Punjab and Haryana, if so, details thereof;

(b) whether such measures have led to substitution of paddy cultivation in these states, if
so, details thereof; and

(c) the change in area of paddy cultivation in these States during the last five years?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
(SHRI ARJUN MUNDA)

(a) to (c): The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing
Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana – Remunerative
Approaches for Agriculture and Allied Sectors Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR), in Original
Green Revolution States viz., 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 and cotton etc. Under CDP assistance is given for alternative crops demonstration, farm
mechanization and value addition, site specific activities and contingency for awareness &
capacity building etc.

Further, Government of India supplements the efforts of state governments to
encourage diversified production of crops such as pulses, coarse cereals, nutri cereals (Shree
Anna) & cotton under National Food Security Mission (NFSM).
Government of India also provides flexibility to the states for state specific
needs/priorities under RKVY-RAFTAAR. The states can promote crop diversification under
RKVY-RAFTAAR with the approval of State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) headed
by Chief Secretary of the respective states.

As per the reports of the State Governments, alternative crop demonstrations in an area
of 469652 hectares have been conducted under CDP in the states of Punjab and Haryana from
the year 2013-14 to 2022-23 to diversify paddy cultivation to alternative crops like pulses,
oilseeds, nutri cereals, coarse cereals, vegetables and horticulture crops etc.
While the area of paddy in Punjab has gone down from 31.03 lakh hectare in the year
2018-19 to 30.98 lakh hectare in the year 2022-23, however, in Haryana it has gone up from
14.47 lakh hectare to 15.20 lakh hectare during the same period.