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Government advances sustainable farming with expanded crop diversification programmes
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Friday, 13 February, 2026, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, New Delhi
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The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is reinforcing efforts to promote sustainable and equitable agricultural practices through its Crop Diversification Programme (CDP). Implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme under the Pradhan Mantri-Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) since 2013-14, CDP initially targeted the Original Green Revolution States of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh to shift cultivation away from water-intensive paddy toward pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals and nutri cereals.
The primary objective of the initiative is to introduce farmers to improved production technologies for alternate crops, enhancing soil fertility through leguminous cultivation and reducing dependency on paddy. Assistance under CDP includes support for alternate crop demonstrations, farm mechanisation, value-addition equipment, site-specific activities and farmer training programmes.
The scheme was extended in 2015-16 to replace tobacco cultivation with alternative cropping systems in major tobacco-growing states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Between 2018-19 and 2024-25, CDP enabled alternative crop demonstrations over 186,546 hectares for paddy and tobacco replacement, contributing to expanded foodgrain cultivation and increased acreage under millets and oilseeds.
To further support diversified cropping, the DA&FW has approved a five-year pilot under the National Food Security & Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Indian Institute of Farming Systems Research (ICAR-IIFSR), with a total outlay of Rs 13.27 crore.
The Government of India is also encouraging states to adopt diversification strategies through flexible implementation under PM-RKVY and through allied schemes such as the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY). Additionally, complementary programmes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) and Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) are promoting water efficiency, organic and natural farming across the country.
These coordinated efforts are aimed at driving sustainable agriculture, improving farmers’ incomes, and enhancing resilience against climatic and economic uncertainties.
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