Punjab’s Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Thursday urged the Central Government to provide a cash incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare to farmers opting for crop diversification in place of paddy during the Kharif season. S. Khudian said that the Central Government in its letter dated June 10, 2024 rolled out the revised guidelines for crop diversification Programme (CDP) for Paddy replacement which mentioned to pay cash incentive of Rs. 17,500 per Hectare (upto 5 hectares per farmer) to farmers who go for alternative crops like Maize and cotton etc. during the Kharif Season.
In continuation the Government of India further issued two letters in November and December last year, but remained silent on financial support, leaving farmers in uncertainty. Punjab Agriculture Minister was here to participate in National Conference on Agriculture-Kharif Campaign -2025 held at PUSA Complex, New Delhi.
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Sh. Shiv Raj Chauhan inaugurated this National Conference. S. Khudian said that the state government has already requested the government of India to support and collaborate by providing incentives on per acre basis in lieu of the additional cost to be incurred on management of paddy stubble and thus to tackle the menace of stubble burning and air pollution.
He reiterated that the Punjab Government is also ready to contribute to this initiative. Demanding consistent and continuous supply of fertilisers, Punjab Agriculture Minister said that the state contributes about 21% paddy and 46% wheat to the central pool and this has happened due the continuous supply of the desired quantity of fertilisers.
He said that during the rabi season, shortage of phosphatic fertilisers generally occurs so it is required that a continuous supply of fertilisers in kharif season for pre-positioning should be maintained. S. Khudian also appealed central government for the continuation of wheat seed subsidy, which is essential for ensuring food security for the growing population.
He said as per the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) estimates, the nation would have a requirement of 345 million metric tonne food grains which at present is 298.82 metric tonnes. To meet this requirement the country should increase the area under production of these crops.
According to ICAR, there is a need to replace 33% of wheat seeds every year, which requires approximately Rs 20 crores. However, the Government of India has discontinued the subsidy on wheat seeds under the NFSM and RKVY schemes.
The Agriculture minister requested that this subsidy should be continued in the larger interests of feeding the growing population of the country.