Hyderabad: The Government of India continues to expand efforts that promote diversified agricultural production with a focus on commercial and horticultural crops. According to a written reply in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Ramnath Thakur, multiple national missions are supporting farmers as they shift from traditional patterns toward more profitable options.
Under the National Food Security Mission for commercial crops, farmers receive encouragement to cultivate cotton, jute and sugarcane. In addition, profitable horticultural crops are promoted through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, which aims to strengthen income opportunities across several regions.
States advance reforms through the Crop Diversification Programme initiatives
Implemented since 2013–14, the Crop Diversification Programme operates in Haryana, Punjab and Western Uttar Pradesh. Its objective is to divert rice-growing areas toward alternative crops such as pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals and cotton. The scheme includes alternate crop demonstrations, farm mechanization support, value-addition interventions, site-specific activities and training initiatives that enhance awareness among farmers.
States are complementing these national programmes with their own reforms. Punjab promotes sustainable practices, encourages millet cultivation and strengthens fruit and vegetable production through quality planting material and centres of excellence for pear, peach, guava and citrus. Haryana is implementing the “Mera Pani Meri Virasat” scheme, launched in 2020, to counter groundwater decline by motivating farmers to shift from paddy to high-value alternatives.
