Punjab Minister Seeks ₹17,500/Hectare Incentive to Boost Crop Diversification
Khudian Urges Centre for Financial Support in Stubble Management, Wheat Seed Subsidy, and Fertiliser Supply
At the National Conference on Agriculture – Kharif Campaign 2025, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian made a compelling appeal to the Central Government, requesting a cash incentive of ₹17,500 per hectare for farmers adopting crop diversification in place of paddy cultivation.
ਝੋਨੇ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਦੇ ਬਦਲ ਲਈ ਅਸੀਂ ਮੱਕੀ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਨੂੰ ਉਤਸ਼ਾਹਿਤ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ। ਅਸੀਂ ਮੱਕੀ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਨੂੰ MSP ‘ਤੇ ਖਰੀਦਾਂਗੇ। ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨਾਲ ਰਾਬਤਾ ਕਰਕੇ 17,000 ਰੁਪਏ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਏਕੜ ‘ਤੇ ਮੱਕੀ ਦੀ ਫ਼ਸਲ ਖਰੀਦੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ।
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धान की फसल के विकल्प के तौर पर हम मक्के की फसल को प्रोत्साहित कर रहे हैं। हम मक्के की फसल… pic.twitter.com/tzrJHbHjjx— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) May 9, 2025
Khudian emphasized that this incentive, as promised in the Centre’s revised Crop Diversification Programme (CDP) guidelines issued on June 10, 2024, remains unimplemented. Despite follow-up communications in November and December, there has been no financial commitment, leaving farmers uncertain and hesitant to shift from traditional paddy crops.
“The intent is there, but implementation is missing,” Khudian stated. “Farmers cannot make critical decisions based on ambiguity.”
He highlighted that Punjab is fully prepared to collaborate with the Centre to promote environmentally sustainable practices — but stressed that actionable support is essential.
Addressing Stubble Burning and Environmental Sustainability
The minister also raised the issue of paddy stubble management, urging the Central Government to provide per-acre incentives to compensate for the additional cost incurred by farmers. Without viable alternatives, many resort to burning stubble, contributing to North India’s severe winter air pollution.
“Stubble burning isn’t a choice — it’s a compulsion in the absence of support,” Khudian noted. “With the right incentives, we can curb this ecological threat.”
Call for Fertiliser Supply and Revival of Wheat Seed Subsidy
Khudian also underscored Punjab’s substantial contribution to the national food pool — 21% of India’s paddy and 46% of wheat — and emphasized the need for uninterrupted fertiliser supply, particularly phosphatic fertilisers, to maintain crop health during both Rabi and Kharif seasons.
In addition, he made a strong pitch for the continuation of the wheat seed subsidy. The subsidy, previously supported under the NFSM and RKVY schemes, was recently discontinued. However, according to ICAR projections, India’s food grain requirement is expected to rise to 345 million metric tonnes by 2030.
“Meeting future food demands will require high-yield seeds and expanded cultivation — and subsidies are vital to that mission,” he said.
Khudian estimated that replacing 33% of wheat seeds annually would cost approximately ₹20 crore and called for the Centre’s assistance to ensure national food security.