Punjab Government Promotes Summer Maize Cultivation

To address the overdependence on water-intensive paddy cultivation and encourage sustainable crop diversification, the Punjab government has allocated USD 13,94 million in the budget for the financial year 2025-26. The initiative primarily targets maize as a cash crop alternative, supporting farmers in three identified districts: Bathinda, Kapurthala, and Gurdaspur. This strategic shift aims to alleviate the strain on groundwater resources, which have severely depleted due to extensive paddy cultivation over the years.

Subsidies and Ethanol Production

Aligned with the Indian government's ambitious plan to achieve a 20% ethanol blend in fuel by 2025, Punjab aims to boost summer maize cultivation specifically for ethanol production. The state has set aside substantial subsidies amounting to USD 212,04 per hectare, targeting to cover a total of 21,000 hectares, directly benefiting about 30,000 farmers. These efforts reflect a dual-purpose objective—meeting ethanol-blending targets while ensuring farmers' economic welfare.

Additionally, several private ethanol producers have shown active interest in collaborating with farmers to transition from paddy to maize cultivation, ensuring reliable market access and economic returns.

Farmers Call for Guaranteed MSP

Punjab Congress MLA Rana Gurjit Singh recently visited key districts of the Malwa region, including Bathinda and Muktsar, to encourage farmers to embrace maize cultivation. He assured them of minimum support price (MSP) procurement.

Experts suggest that the success of crop diversification in Punjab will depend on effective implementation, timely subsidies, and reliable procurement arrangements. Additionally, farmers seek assurance that maize cultivation will provide long-term economic viability. Ensuring infrastructure for ethanol processing and clear procurement channels will also be crucial in convincing farmers to fully transition from traditional paddy farming to sustainable maize production.