The 2025 Agricultural Milestone: Punjab Marks 2025 with Historic Crop Diversification and Farmer Rewards
Furthermore, 2025 saw a decisive effort to break the traditional paddy cycle through a pilot project in six districts...
The 2025 Agricultural Milestone: Punjab Marks 2025 with Historic Crop Diversification and Farmer Rewards
The conclusion of 2025 marks a pivotal shift in Punjab’s agricultural sector, catalysed by the strategic initiatives of the state government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. This year has established a new standard for rural prosperity, characterised by record-breaking farmer compensation, substantial progress in crop diversification, and a rigorous commitment to environmental sustainability.
S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, emphasised that the government's efforts to empower the farming community are inextricably linked to ecological preservation. He noted that state-led schemes have sparked a transformative era, punctuated by the decision to reward agricultural labour with record-setting sugarcane prices. Specifically, the government announced the nation's highest State Agreed Price (SAP) for sugarcane at Rs 416 per quintal. This Rs 15 increase from the previous year ensures that Punjab’s sugarcane growers remain the most highly compensated in India.
Environmental protection emerged as a significant success story this year, with a 53% decline in stubble burning incidents during the Kharif season. Official records show fire cases plummeted to 5,114 from the 10,909 reported in 2024. This progress is attributed to the aggressive distribution of subsidised Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery. Since 2018, over 1.58 lakh units have been provided to farmers, with more than 16,000 sanction letters issued in 2025 alone.
The state also saw a robust expansion in crop diversification. Cotton cultivation grew by 20%, reaching 1.19 lakh hectares. This growth was fuelled by a 33% government subsidy on BT cotton seeds recommended by PAU. Farmer confidence in these policies was evidenced by the online enrolment of over 52,000 participants.
Similarly, the push for water-conserving Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technology—supported by a Rs 1,500 per acre incentive—saw a 17% increase in adoption. The area under DSR rose from 2.53 lakh acres in 2024 to 2.96 lakh acres this year, marking a crucial milestone in groundwater preservation. Basmati rice cultivation also experienced an upward trend, increasing to 6.90 lakh hectares from 6.81 lakh hectares. This growth reinforces Basmati’s status as a profitable alternative for farmers targeting international and domestic markets.
Furthermore, 2025 saw a decisive effort to break the traditional paddy cycle through a pilot project in six districts: Sangrur, Bathinda, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Pathankot. This initiative successfully transitioned over 11,000 acres from paddy to Kharif maize, supported by a Rs 17,500 per hectare incentive. Additional support included Rs 10,000 per hectare for inputs under RKVY and subsidised maize seeds provided at Rs 100 per kg in the districts of Roopnagar and SAS Nagar.
Reflecting on these milestones, Minister Khudian reaffirmed the government's dedication to sustainable practices and farmer welfare. He stated that record sugarcane pricing and successful diversification schemes like the cottonseed subsidy and DSR have driven historic change. As the government looks toward 2026, the focus remains on innovation and eco-friendly farming to further secure Punjab’s agricultural future.