Chandigarh: Haryana Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana has emphasised that crop diversification and water conservation are important strategies for curbing the declining groundwater levels, maintaining soil fertility and promoting climate-resilient agriculture in the state.
He said that shifting away from water-intensive monoculture crops such as paddy and sugarcane towards crops requiring less water is essential for the long-term sustainability of agriculture, particularly in water-stressed regions. To prevent the excessive exploitation of precious and increasingly scarce natural resources such as water, the Haryana Government launched the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme, an innovative initiative that provides financial assistance to farmers who replace paddy with alternative crops.
The Agriculture Minister explained that when the scheme was initially launched, farmers were provided financial assistance of ₹7,000 per acre for cultivating alternative crops instead of paddy. At present, farmers who cultivated paddy during the preceding four years but have now shifted to alternative crops are eligible for financial assistance of ₹8,000 per acre.
The Agriculture Minister appealed to farmers across the state to participate in this major water conservation initiative and adopt crop diversification. He said that these practices would not only help farmers enhance their incomes but also protect water resources and agricultural land for future generations.
