18-07-2025
Despite govt's push for alternatives, water-guzzling paddy expands by 35% in Haryana in ten years
Despite consistent efforts by the Haryana government to promote crop diversification, the area under paddy cultivation has increased by over 35 per cent in the last ten years — from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024.
Data accessed by The Indian Express revealed that paddy cultivation expanded steadily between 2015 and 2024, with only two exceptions. The area under paddy grew from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 15.58 lakh hectares in 2019. It then witnessed marginal declines in 2020 (15.25 lakh hectares) and 2021 (15.33 lakh hectares). However, the upward trend resumed thereafter — rising to 16.61 lakh hectares in 2022, 17.77 lakh hectares in 2023, and reaching 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024.
Notably, the dip in paddy cultivation during 2020 and 2021 coincided with the launch of the government's scheme 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat', aimed at encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to alternative crops. The scheme included awareness campaigns on water conservation and a financial incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre for those opting for less water-consuming crops such as pulses, cotton, maize, and horticulture (including vegetables and fruits).
However, the temporary decline failed to sustain. Farmer leaders cited profitability as the key deterrent. 'Currently, in terms of income, farmers find paddy the most financially viable option, so they are hesitant to leave it,' Mandeep Nathwan, a farm leader from Fatehabad district, said. According to farmer leaders, paddy yields income of nearly Rs 80,000 per acre, with farmers able to retain approximately Rs 50,000 per acre after expenses.
Rakesh Bains, a farmer from Kurukshetra district, added: 'if I cultivate paddy, I would get remuneration of Rs 80,000 per acre. But if I opt for an alternative crop, I can earn a maximum of Rs 50,000 per acre'. 'The government talks a lot about alternative crops but does not offer better marketing facilities for them. If I cultivate maize, then I face a lot of difficulties in selling it,' he added.
Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran CEO Ravinder Singh Chauhan acknowledged: 'farmers don't hesitate to adopt other crops — provided they are as remunerative as the competitive ones. Better market access and availability of seeds for alternative crops may encourage this shift'.
With paddy transplantation underway for the current season, officials are optimistic about improved outcomes. The government has raised the diversification incentive from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per acre. 'This may yield good results. We expect that the area under traditional paddy cultivation may come down. Even farmers with limited irrigation resources are adopting direct seeded rice (DSR), which uses up to 90 per cent less water than the conventional puddling method,' an official said. Farmers are also being offered Rs 4,000 per acre to adopt DSR.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday directed senior officials to prepare an action plan for food processing industries based on region-specific crops. According to officials, the goal is to motivate farmers to diversify beyond traditional crops and align with market demand. He instructed that small clusters be identified and centres of excellence developed accordingly.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana recently stated that the government aims to promote crop diversification across 4 lakh acres in 22 districts, with dhaincha (sesbania bispinosa) playing a key role. Under a new initiative to reduce dependency on chemical fertilisers, farmers cultivating Dhaincha as green manure will receive Rs 1,000 per acre. 'Over 3 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from this effort,' he added.
Former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier highlighted the state's water challenges. He stated that Haryana's total water availability is 20.93 lakh crore litres, while demand stands at 34.96 lakh crore litres — leaving a gap of nearly 14 lakh crore litres. He emphasised that 86 per cent of water is consumed by agriculture and 5 per cent by horticulture, underlining the urgent need for conservation.
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