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

> PM Modi urges Indian farmers to move beyond wheat, rice, and sugarcane for better income and resource sustainability.
- Title: Why PM Modi wants farmers to diversify beyond wheat, rice…
- Summary: PM Modi urges Indian farmers to move beyond wheat, rice, and sugarcane for better income and resource sustainability.
- Keywords: pm modi, kisan tak bharat agriculture conference, farmers diversification, wheat, rice, sugarcane, dairy, fisheries, beekeeping, solar power, fertilizer, india
- Source: India Today — https://indiatoday.in/science/story/pm-modi-farmers-wheat-rice-sugarcane-diversification-solar-fisheries-income-3037940-2026-11-13
- Author: Radifah Kabir
- Published: 2026-11-13T05:04:36+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pm modi, kisan tak bharat agriculture conference, farmers diversification, wheat, rice, sugarcane, dairy, fisheries, beekeeping, solar power, fertilizer, india
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Prime Minister Narendra Modi encourages Indian farmers to diversify into dairy, fisheries, solar power, and other activities to reduce crop dependency and improve income.