Odisha Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)

Why it matters

Gives farmers financial support to switch part of their land from paddy to pulses, oilseeds, maize and vegetables, improving soil health and income stability.

What you get

The Crop Diversification Programme, run as a central-state convergence scheme in Odisha, encourages farmers in traditionally paddy-dominant areas to shift a portion of cultivated land to non-paddy crops such as pulses, oilseeds, maize and vegetables. Support includes subsidised seed kits, micro-irrigation assistance, and demonstration plots to help farmers learn profitable alternative cropping patterns. The programme aims to reduce excessive groundwater draw-down and monoculture risk associated with continuous paddy cultivation while improving farmer income through crop variety and reduced input costs for water-intensive paddy.

Eligibility criteria

• Farmer cultivating in a district notified under the Crop Diversification Programme
• Willingness to allocate a portion of paddy land to an alternative crop
• Land record showing prior paddy cultivation for some sub-components

How to apply

1. 1

   Apply through the District Agriculture Office for the diversification component

2. 2

   Select an approved alternative crop and receive subsidised seed/input kit

3. 3

   Demonstration and monitoring support provided during the cropping season

Documents required

• Land record (RoR)
• Aadhaar and bank account details
• Previous-season paddy cultivation proof for switching farmers