Why PM Modi wants farmers to diversify beyond wheat, rice, sugarcane

PM Modi's call for crop diversification

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Indian farmers to move beyond wheat, rice, and sugarcane at the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference in New Delhi.

“Farmer brothers should not remain dependent only on wheat, rice, and sugarcane”

Resource concerns behind crop focus

Rice and sugarcane are water-intensive crops that have strained groundwater reserves, with Haryana extracting 137 per cent of its annual groundwater recharge.

Soil testing expansion

Soil-testing laboratories increased from a few hundred in 2014 to over 8,400, helping farmers choose crops suited to their land conditions.

Growth in allied farming activities

Milk production rose nearly 70 per cent in a decade, egg production nearly 90 per cent, fish production doubled, and honey output increased from 80,000 tonnes to 1.5 lakh tonnes.

Solar power and irrigation

Nearly 12 lakh solar pumps have been distributed under PM-KUSUM, allowing farmers to earn by supplying surplus electricity to the grid.

Fertilizer affordability and use

India spent Rs 16 lakh crore over 12 years to keep fertilizers affordable, with a DAP bag costing Rs 5,000 available for Rs 1,300.

The real test for diversification

Diversification could improve farm incomes but requires investment, storage, infrastructure, and reliable buyers, especially for small farmers.