Why ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme has failed to gain farmers’ support

The state government launched the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme for farmers in Haryana during the Kharif season to encourage a shift away from water-intensive paddy cultivation to alternative crops. The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department also offered an incentive of Rs 8,000 per acre to farmers who transitioned from paddy to other crops under the scheme. However, this Kharif season has shown that the scheme has struggled to gain traction among farmers.

What is the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ (MPMV) scheme?

The ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ (MPMV) scheme was launched by the state government’s Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to encourage crop diversification, aiming to reduce the over-reliance on paddy. Paddy cultivation has led to excessive water usage and a declining water table in many areas. The scheme was introduced during the Kharif season of 2020 to address water scarcity and improve the management of water resources in agriculture. Its primary goal is the conservation of water, which is becoming an increasingly scarce resource.

Why has the scheme failed to attract farmers despite

financial incentives?

During this Kharif season, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department set a target of shifting 100,000 acres of paddy land to other crops under the MPMV scheme. Farmers who have cultivated paddy on a particular field for the last three years are eligible for an Rs 8,000 incentive if they switch to another crop. However, the scheme has only achieved less than 20 per cent of its target.

The low adoption rate suggests that farmers continue to favour paddy, as it offers stable returns through assured procurement, established market networks, and minimal risk. In contrast, switching to crops such as cotton, pulses, vegetables, or agro-forestry exposes farmers to volatile market prices, higher input costs, and increased vulnerability to pests. Additionally, many farmers have faced substantial losses in cotton production in recent years, reinforcing their preference for the traditional cropping pattern.

What are the claims of farmers, and how much area was actually covered under the MPMV scheme?

Farmers are required to register their fields and other details on the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department’s web portal. According to the data, 20,696 farmers claimed to have diversified 31,718 acres across the state. However, a physical verification by officials revealed that only 19,670 acres were eligible for the incentive. This indicates that almost 38 per cent of the claims were either false or inaccurate.

Which districts performed relatively better in

adopting the scheme?

Yamunanagar was the most responsive district, with 5,245 acres diversified by 3,464 farmers. Ambala also showed significant participation, with 3,847 acres diversified. In contrast, larger agricultural districts such as Sirsa and Jind — despite having the highest targets — performed poorly, shifting only 1,360 and 694 acres, respectively.

What are the implications of the scheme’s underperformance?

Officials from the Agriculture Department acknowledge that farmers remain uncertain about the returns from diversified crops, including cotton, maize, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, horticultural crops, fodder, and agro-forestry, which deter them from abandoning paddy. However, the continued expansion of paddy cultivation in Haryana is placing immense pressure on the state’s water resources, as it is a water-intensive crop. To mitigate this, the state government is also promoting direct seeding of rice (DSR) as an alternative method that requires less water.