Agriculture in India has historically focused on staple crops like rice and wheat, a system that worked well after the Green Revolution to ensure food security. However, over time, this monoculture led to overuse of groundwater, soil exhaustion, and limited income growth for farmers.
To address these challenges, the Government of India launched the Crop Diversification Program (CDP) under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). The program encourages farmers to switch from water-intensive crops like paddy to alternative crops such as pulses, oilseeds, maize, and horticultural crops. This shift not only helps in water conservation and improving soil health but also enhances farmers’ income and promotes sustainable agriculture.
What is the crop diversification program (CDP) and why was it started?
The Crop Diversification Program (CDP) was launched during the 12th Five Year Plan (2013–14) as a sub-scheme under RKVY. Its main goal is to encourage farmers, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh, to reduce dependence on paddy and wheat and adopt crops that are less water-intensive, improve soil fertility, and offer higher profitability.
- Focuses on sustainable agriculture and income growth.
- Aims to address groundwater depletion and soil degradation.
- Encourages farmers to grow pulses, oilseeds, maize, and horticultural crops.
How does the crop diversification program function?
CDP works by providing financial, technical, and infrastructure support to farmers to adopt alternative crops. The program follows a structured approach to ensure success and long-term adoption.
- Awareness & Training: Farmers are trained through field demonstrations and workshops.
- Financial Assistance: Subsidies are provided for seeds, farm machinery, and plant protection.
- Infrastructure Development: Storage facilities, cold chains, and processing units are set up to prevent crop wastage.
- State-Specific Plans: Each state adapts the program based on local cropping patterns and water availability.
- Market Linkages: Farmers are connected to industries and markets for better pricing of alternative crops.
Which states are targeted under CDP?
CDP primarily focuses on the Original Green Revolution States and tobacco-growing regions of India.
| Target Area | Focus | Examples / Notes |
| Punjab, Haryana, Western UP | Replace paddy with alternative crops | Pulses, maize, oilseeds, vegetables |
| Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal | Replace tobacco with alternative crops | Cotton, pulses, horticultural crops |
| All states (flexible) | State-specific needs | States can design programs approved by State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) |
Financial Allocation (2019–20):
- Paddy Replacement: ₹1,328 crore (Punjab: ₹705.76L, Haryana: ₹301.73L, UP: ₹320.51L)
- Tobacco Replacement: ₹667 crore
- Contingency: ₹5 crore
- Total: ₹2,000 crore
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What are the objectives of the program?
The main goals of CDP revolve around sustainability, income, and resource management.
- Water Conservation: Reduce dependence on water-intensive paddy to protect groundwater.
- Soil Health Improvement: Promote crop rotation and planting legumes to enrich soil fertility.
- Income Enhancement: Provide farmers with new revenue streams from high-value and alternative crops.
What are the benefits of crop diversification?
Crop diversification provides ecological, economic, and social benefits.
- Risk Reduction: Grow a mix of drought-tolerant and water-intensive crops.
- Soil Fertility: Leguminous crops fix nitrogen, improving soil health for subsequent crops.
- Market Opportunities: Farmers can target niche markets like organic produce.
- Pest & Disease Management: Intercropping reduces pest attack without heavy chemicals.
- Biofuel Potential: Crops like Jatropha and Pongamia offer additional income and energy security.
- Nutrition Security: Pulses and oilseeds enhance protein intake for communities.
What are the challenges in implementing crop diversification?
Despite its benefits, CDP faces challenges that slow adoption among farmers.
| Challenge | Explanation |
| Market Risks | Alternative crops may have fluctuating prices or limited demand. |
| Financial Constraints | Small farmers may struggle to invest in new seeds, machinery, or training. |
| Infrastructure Gap | Lack of cold storage and transport can lead to crop wastage. |
| Dietary Habits | People’s preference for rice and wheat affects market demand. |
| Awareness Limitations | Farmers often need proof of real success in their region to adopt new crops. |
What steps has the government taken to support crop diversification?
The government has implemented several measures alongside CDP to ensure smooth adoption.
- Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): Focuses on alternative crops in Green Revolution states.
- MIDH (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture): Supports fruits, vegetables, spices, and flowers.
- MSP for Kharif Crops: Ensures price support for mandated crops, encouraging farmers to diversify.
- State-Level Schemes: Example – Haryana’s Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme provides financial aid to farmers switching from paddy.
Check Out: Complete List of Important Schemes for NABARD Grade A Exam
What is the way forward for crop diversification in India?
For crop diversification to succeed, strategies need to be practical, farmer-friendly, and sustainable.
- Expanding MSP: Include pulses, oilseeds, and maize to build farmer confidence.
- Infrastructure Development: Build more storage, cold chains, and small processing units.
- Awareness with Evidence: Demonstrate success stories locally for better adoption.
- Agri-Tourism & U-Pick Farms: Enable additional income and consumer engagement.
- Biofortification & Gene Editing: Develop nutrient-rich crops for health and market opportunities.
- Regenerative Agriculture: Use sustainable practices like no-till, cover cropping, and composting alongside diversified cropping.
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Questions based on Crop Diversification Program
Q1. What is the primary goal of the Crop Diversification Program (CDP) in India?
A. Increase wheat production
B. Replace water-intensive crops with alternative crops
C. Promote organic farming only
D. Reduce agricultural mechanization
E. Increase rice export
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The main goal of CDP is to encourage farmers to reduce dependence on water-intensive crops like paddy and grow pulses, oilseeds, maize, and horticultural crops to conserve water, improve soil health, and enhance income.
Q2. Which states were initially targeted under the CDP for paddy replacement?
A. Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha
B. Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh
C. Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra
D. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal
E. All Indian states
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: CDP mainly focused on the Original Green Revolution States – Punjab, Haryana, and Western UP – where rice-wheat monoculture caused groundwater depletion and soil degradation.
Q3. Which of the following is NOT a benefit of crop diversification under CDP?
A. Soil fertility improvement
B. Reduced risk from drought
C. Guaranteed higher MSP for all crops
D. Improved market opportunities
E. Better pest and disease management
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: While CDP promotes income through alternative crops, MSP is guaranteed only for certain crops like rice, wheat, and other mandated Kharif crops. Not all alternative crops have guaranteed MSP.
Q4. Which disease influenced West Bengal farmers to diversify away from wheat?
A. Rice blast disease
B. Wheat blast disease
C. Maize leaf blight
D. Tomato mosaic virus
E. Potato late blight
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The wheat blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum in Bangladesh (2016) led to bans on wheat cultivation in border districts of West Bengal, encouraging farmers to shift to bananas, maize, and pulses.
Q5. What financial and technical support does CDP provide to farmers?
A. Only training programs
B. Only marketing support
C. Subsidies on seeds, machinery, farm demonstrations, and infrastructure development
D. Export assistance
E. Loans for purchasing tractors only
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: CDP provides comprehensive support including financial assistance for seeds and machinery, awareness campaigns, farm demonstrations, and infrastructure like cold storage and processing units to make diversification feasible.
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FAQs
It is a government initiative to replace water-intensive crops with sustainable alternatives like pulses, oilseeds, and maize.
CDP was launched during the 12th Five Year Plan (2013–14) under RKVY.
Pulses, oilseeds, maize, coarse cereals, nutri-cereals, cotton, and horticultural crops.
Punjab, Haryana, and Western Uttar Pradesh.
Market risks, financial constraints, lack of storage, and dietary habits.
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