Farmers shift to pulses, oilseeds from paddy, millet

Quote: Govt’s efforts pay dividends

State government’s consistent efforts coupled with cash incentives to farmers for shifting from paddy and bajra to alternative crops has started paying rich dividends. — Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture)

Box: Facts and figures

In 2021, area under pulses (moong, arhar and urad) has increased by 74 per cent ; production by 67 per cent

Area under oilseeds increased by 42 per cent and production by 48 per cent

Farmers opt for crop diversification over an area of about 98,000 acres across state

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 29

In a big boost to the crop diversification scheme, farmers have started to shift to pulses and oilseeds from Haryana’s traditional paddy and millet crops.

As compared to 2020, the area under pulses (moong,arhar and urad) has increased by 74 per cent during the 2021 kharif season, registering an increase of 67 per cent in production. The area under moong cultivation alone has increased from 1,13,521 acres to 1,98,438 acres, registering an increase of 84,917 acres, sources told The Tribune here today.

Similarly, the area under oilseeds has seen a jump by 42 per cent from 2020 to 2021, registering an increase of 48 per cent in production.

While the area under groundnut has increased from 22,847 acres to 27,230 acres, the area under til (sesame) has registered an increase of 7,469 acres (from 4,298 acres to 11,767 acres).

Sources said an area of about 98,000 acres had come under alternative crops across the state, especially in southern part of the state, which is considered to be bajwa belt.

Sumita Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, asserted that the state government’s consistent efforts, coupled with cash incentives to farmers for shifting from paddy and bajra to alternative crops, had started paying rich dividends.

Under the Mera Pani, Meri Virasat crop diversification scheme of the state, farmers opting for alternative crops are given an incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre. Similarly, farmers are given an incentive of Rs 4,000 per acre for shifting from bajra to pulses or oilseeds.

Officials said crop diversification would go a long way in conserving water besides increasing the fertility of land and availability oilseeds to the common man.