Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have sought financial assistance from the Centre to encourage farmers to shift acreage from staple cereals to other crops.
Punjab alone has sought over Rs 2000 crore through two proposals. Maharashtra has projected its requirement at over Rs 1792 crore, Haryana Rs 960 crore and Uttar Pradesh at Rs 145 crore.
According to the information supplied by the agriculture ministry to Parliament, Punjab would like to shift one million hectares of land from rice-wheat cropping to oilseeds, pulses and other crops. It has sought aid of Rs 1280 crore for this.
The Punjab government has also sought aid to promote contract farming for diversification of agriculture under its crop adjustment programme. Assistance of Rs 773.61 crore has been sought under this scheme.
Haryana has submitted a proposal for crop diversification backed by a Rs 960 crore compensation package spread over three years.
Maharashtra has submitted concept paper on agricultural intensification and diversification worth Rs 1792.5 crore. The project would cover about 2.5 million hectares in five years.
Uttar Pradesh already has an on-going World Bank supported diversified agriculture support project. The state government has sought central assistance of Rs 145.58 crore for implementing the second phase between 2004-05 and 2008-09.
The Planning Commission has listed diversification of cropping pattern, especially replacement of cereals with high-value crops, as one of the priorities of the 10th Plan. The Centre would extend financial support to state governments undertaking such schemes.
