Bathinda: Punjab will nearly triple the footprint of its crop diversification programme this season, offering cash incentives to farmers who swap water-intensive paddy for maize to combat the state's plummeting groundwater levels.
Agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian announced on Sunday that the scheme will expand from six to 16 districts for the season 2026-27. Participating farmers will receive a subsidy of ₹17,500 for each hectare (₹7,000 for each acre) to transition away from the traditional paddy-wheat cycle, which officials warn is no longer sustainable.
The programme aims to cover 20,000 hectares across major agricultural hubs, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Patiala. For transparency, the state government has digitised the process, requiring mandatory geo-tagging and 'J-form' documentation to verify that applicants are converting paddy fields.
'This scheme is about securing Punjab's water table and ensuring farmer profitability,' Khudian said, noting that the payment structure is designed to promote accountability.
Farmers will receive an initial ₹4,500 for each hectare upon submitting input bills. The remaining ₹13,000 will be disbursed in two instalments following field inspections. Verification will be in two phases through the Unnat Kisan portal: the first in late July and the second in mid-August.
The expansion follows a 2025-26 pilot project. Field staff will launch awareness campaigns to encourage registration via the state's agriculture machinery portal, emphasising that the shift is critical to preserving the region's dwindling water resources.
