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The large-scale adoption of green revolution
technologies resulted in an increase in
area under an exhaustive paddy-wheat cropping
system. A stage has been reached, where
even the existing levels of production of
these crops are not economical and sustainable
due to the overexploitation of underground
water and excessive use of agrochemicals.
The shift in some areas from the cropping
system, to other crops like cotton, maize,
groundnut, vegetables and fruits, along
with reduced use of pesticides, is the only
solution to make agriculture a viable enterprise
and means of livelihood. The Trust has expended
efforts to support the shift in area from
paddy to cotton, groundnut and Basmati rice.
The area under groundnut and Basmati has
also increased by supporting the development
of a special variety of groundnut (SG 99),
and its popularisation through the provision
of machinery for planting, digging and threshing.
Similarly, the area under Basmati rice,
which requires less water than coarse rice,
has been increased through the supply of
quality seeds, besides adequate plant population
and protection measures.
Apart from these crops, the Trust is supporting
the PAU for identification of more alternate
crops like maize, oilseeds and pulses. The
main thrust under diversification includes
the popularisation of groundnut, Basmati,
moongbean, and gram, and natural resource
management through crop residue management.
The relatively slow adoption of diversification
is mainly due to inadequate marketing of
alternate crops. The Trust is supporting
the establishment of new marketing channels
for new crops.
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