In GPM district, the Agriculture Department is encouraging farmers to shift from summer paddy cultivation to more profitable and water-efficient crops such as wheat, gram, urad, and maize during the Rabi season. The department is creating awareness through farmer meetings and is providing seeds at subsidized rates based on farmers’ consent.
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Satyajeet Kanwar, informed that summer paddy requires excessive water, leading to a rapid decline in groundwater levels. To prevent drinking water shortages during the summer and to ensure stable income for farmers, the department is promoting alternative crops.
Farmers in Five Villages Agree to Switch Crops
Kanwar shared that meetings were held on Thursday in Bariumarav, Tangiyamar, Kudari, Kadkai, and Ganjan villages. Farmers from these villages have agreed to cultivate alternative crops instead of summer paddy on 116 hectares of land.
Campaign to Cover All Villages of the District
The Agriculture Department is conducting this campaign across all villages in the district. Farmers in Amarpur, Patgangwa, and Latkoni have already been identified, and seed distribution will begin soon as per their requirements. The goal is to promote higher yield, lower input costs, and conservation of natural resources simultaneously.
A New Direction for Sustainable Farming
Officials believe this initiative will not only help conserve water but also motivate farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. They noted that awareness is the first step toward sustainable agriculture, and farmers across the district are showing encouraging participation.
