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.
