Punjab promotes crop diversification to enhance farmers’ welfare

Punjab E News: Punjab, a predominantly agrarian state with an economy largely dependent on agriculture, is seeing significant efforts under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership to improve farmers’ livelihoods.
      The Punjab government is actively working on various welfare schemes aimed at transforming the lives of farmers and reducing dependence on traditional water-intensive crops like wheat and paddy.
      The state government has introduced a crop diversification initiative to encourage farmers to adopt less water-intensive crops in response to changing climatic conditions and depleting groundwater levels.
     This strategy aims to shift away from water-intensive farming practices while ensuring sustainable agriculture.
As part of this initiative, the government has allocated a budget of Rs 575 crore for the upcoming year. The funds will be utilized for various programs promoting crop diversification and alternative farming practices.
     One such effort includes technical support under the “Mission Unnat Krishi” to encourage cotton cultivation. Through this program, over 87,000 farmers have been provided with a 33% subsidy on cotton seeds.
     The government is also focusing on improving soil health and raising groundwater levels to address agricultural challenges in Punjab. These measures are expected to lead to sustainable farming practices and greater prosperity for the hardworking farmers of the state.