Farmers’ protest against restriction on paddy cultivation

Farmers’ protest against restriction on paddy cultivation

Part of: GS-Prelims and GS-III – Agriculture

In News:

• Several farmers staged a tractor march in Haryana against the state government’s decision to restrict paddy (rice) cultivation to a few areas in the State. 

Key takeaways

• The Haryana government had recently launched ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme. 
• It aimed at crop diversification to move away from water-guzzling paddy. 
• Under the scheme, farmers sowing alternative crops other than paddy during the kharif season will get an incentive of ₹7,000 per acre.
• Government is aiming to replace 50% of the paddy area with alternative crops, including maize, cotton, millet, and pulses.
• Farmers have started a ‘Kisan Bacho-Kheti Bachao’ campaign against the decision.  
• They informed that soil and climate is not conducive in most parts for their cultivation. 
• According to them, the compensation offered is Inadequate as well. 

Important value additions 

Crop diversification 

• It refers to the addition of new crops or cropping systems to agricultural production on a particular farm. 
• It takes into account the different returns from value-added crops and other marketing opportunities. 
• Advantages:
  • It can help in increasing the farmers’ income to a certain extent. 
  • Dependency of farmers on a single crop decreases. 
  • Increase in natural biodiversity
  • strengthening the ability of the agro-ecosystem to respond to the stresses. 
  • Building crop resilience to diseases, pest organisms and environmental stresses. 
  • It reduces the risk of total crop failure.  
  • Enable farmers to gain access to national and international markets with new products, food and medicinal plants.