Mera Pani Meri Virasat (2020): Incentivising A Shift Towards Water-Saving Crops

Policy Update
Sneha Kohli

Background

Haryana is an agriculture state known as the ‘bread basket’ of India. The state has diverse ecology and cropping patterns including paddy production. Paddy is a water-intensive crop and requires a high amount of water for proper irrigation and produce. Hence, Mera Pani Meri Virasat was launched by Haryana state government to diversify cropping patterns from water-intensive crops to water-efficient crops (i.e., pulses, bajra, maize, and cotton) to maintain the state’s groundwater level. (Bagaria & Jatav, 2025) Before MPMV was launched in 2020, Haryana faced severe groundwater stress, with 85 of its groundwater assessment blocks classified as over-exploited, largely due to intensive groundwater-dependent agriculture (Central Ground Water Board, 2020).

Mera Pani Meri Virasat (MPMV) is Haryana’s groundwater-conservation drive, launched in 2020 by the state’s Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department in response to the alarming fall in the water table across paddy-heavy blocks. (Mera Pani Meri Virasat, 2026) The objective of the scheme is to promote water conservation and crop diversification has finally borne fruit. In 2021, the scheme was further extended to include agro-forestry which incentivizes farmers to plant 400 trees per acre. (Government of Haryana, 2021)

Under this scheme, instead of paddy, farmers who grow crops which consume less water like maize, cotton, bajra, pulses, vegetables etc., are given an incentive amount of Rs 7,000 per acre. However, in the 2025 budget scheme, the incentive amount was increased to Rs 8,000 per acre. Not only this, agro-forestry has also been included in this Scheme this year under which, instead of paddy, the Haryana government provides an incentive of Rs 10,000 per acre per year to the farmer for planting 400 trees per acre. (Government of Haryana, 2021)

The long term targets of the Crop Diversification Programme under MPMV includes: (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Haryana, 2020)

Reduction in area under high water-intensive crops.
Establishment of alternative crops for sustainable agriculture and inspiration of the latest modern agricultural technology.
Increase in farm income, resource conservation, restore water table, and reduce soil fatigue and pollution level.

Functioning

The scheme operates by providing flat per-acre incentive for replacing kharif paddy with an approved alternative on land that grew paddy the preceding year. The scheme includes:

₹8,000 per acre for diversifying out of paddy
Horticulture switchers – fruit and vegetable growers can stack the diversification incentive with separate horticulture department subsidies
Direct seeded rice (DSR) has its own parallel incentive of ₹4,000 per acre; that is a water-saving technique payment
In several seasons the government has also allowed the incentive on paddy land left fallow, treating rested land as diversification

Payment lands through direct benefit transfer into the bank account linked to the farmer’s registration, after physical verification of the field. (Haryana.com Editorial Desk, 2026)

Three types of activities have been identified under the Crop Diversification Programme: (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Haryana, n.d.)

Cluster demonstration of alternative crops: Cluster demonstration of maize crop.
Site specific activities: Distribution of Dhaincha seeds to improve soil health and providing assistance to farmers on water saving techniques.
Awareness, Training, Implementation and Monitoring: Along with the evaluation of the plan, promotion of various activities, dissemination of information and awareness activities such as organizing Kisan Melas and seminars.

Implementation operates through a targeted, incentive-based and digitally supported mechanism. Farmers opting to replace paddy with approved alternative crops register their land and crop details through the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal, following which field-level verification is undertaken before the incentive is transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme initially provided ₹7,000 per acre for diversification from paddy, while its crop coverage and incentive structure have been expanded over time.

First stage verification is conducted after sowing and second stage verification is done at the time of selling the produce. First and second installments are Rs. 2000 and Rs. 5000, respectively. The use of registration, field verification and direct transfer mechanisms aims to improve transparency and ensure that financial assistance reaches eligible farmers, while district/block-level targets and agricultural extension activities support implementation on the ground (Government of Haryana, 2021; Haryana.com Editorial Desk, 2026).

Performance

The Mera Pani Meri Virasat (MPMV) scheme has made progress in promoting farmer participation in crop diversification and reducing dependence on paddy cultivation. However, the extent of adoption has varied considerably across districts and among beneficiaries.

Evidence from the assessment of farm diversification schemes shows that participation under MPMV has varied across districts, reflecting differences in local agro-climatic conditions and market opportunities. In Kaithal, maize was the most commonly adopted alternative crop among beneficiaries, accounting for 37.5%, followed by fodder at 17.5%. Vegetables such as watermelon, bottle gourd and muskmelon were also adopted by 7.5% of respondents. In Hisar, cotton was adopted by 15% of respondents, while in Bhiwani, 20% cultivated cotton under the diversification scheme. Pearl millet was also preferred in areas with limited water availability (Jose & Ponnusamy, 2022).

However, the overall reach of the scheme remained limited. Among beneficiaries, only 8–49% of the area that had previously been under paddy was converted to alternative crops. The study also found that some farmers adopted alternative crops only on a pilot basis, making it difficult to assume that the same level of adoption would continue in subsequent years. Expert assessments cited in the study suggested that only around 5–7% of total farmers at the district level had adopted the MPMV scheme, indicating that its reach remained relatively limited in its initial years (Jose & Ponnusamy, 2022).

Selected Indicators of Crop Diversification under MPMV

Indicator	Finding
Maize adoption among beneficiaries – Kaithal	37.5%
Fodder adoption among beneficiaries – Kaithal	17.5%
Vegetable adoption among beneficiaries – Kaithal	7.5%
Cotton adoption among beneficiaries – Hisar	15%
Cotton adoption among beneficiaries – Bhiwani	20%
Paddy area converted to alternative crops among beneficiaries	8–49%
Estimated farmer-level adoption at district level	5–7%

Source: Jose, E., & Ponnusamy, K. (2022). Impact assessment of farm diversification schemes in Haryana, India. Journal of Extension Education, 34(2), 6801–6809

The implementation performance of the scheme has also been affected by differences in local conditions. Vegetable cultivation was relatively attractive in Kaithal because of the availability of markets, whereas cotton was more suitable in Hisar and Bhiwani. The study further identified delays in verification, difficulties in accessing subsidies and field-level water-management problems as important implementation constraints. Where neighbouring farmers continued to cultivate paddy, farmers adopting alternative crops faced difficulties in managing water, highlighting the importance of community-level rather than isolated adoption (Jose & Ponnusamy, 2022).

Overall, MPMV has performed positively in creating an incentive-based mechanism for crop diversification and facilitating farmer participation, but its implementation has remained uneven. The relatively limited coverage, pilot-level adoption and administrative and field-level constraints indicate that the scheme has yet to achieve large-scale and sustained participation across Haryana.

Impact

The principal intended impact of the Mera Pani Meri Virasat (MPMV) scheme is to reduce dependence on water-intensive paddy cultivation and promote more sustainable and economically viable cropping patterns. The available evidence indicates that the scheme has produced impacts across water conservation, crop diversification and farm returns, although these outcomes remain uneven across crops and regions. (Jose & Ponnusamy, 2022)

Water conservation: MPMV has contributed to reducing irrigation requirements by encouraging farmers to shift from paddy to less water-intensive crops. Based on the irrigation assumptions used in the study, paddy requires around 15 irrigations at a 5-cm water level, compared with approximately four irrigations for pearl millet, fodder and vegetables and five for maize and cotton at a 3-cm level. Overall, diversification was estimated to conserve 16–20% of irrigation water compared with traditional paddy cultivation. Fodder and pearl millet could save up to 3 lakh litres of water per hectare, demonstrating the scheme’s potential environmental impact
Crop diversification: The scheme has encouraged farmers to cultivate alternative crops such as maize, cotton, pearl millet, fodder and vegetables. However, the limited conversion of paddy land indicates that the environmental benefits of diversification have not yet been realised at a sufficiently large scale. Only 8–49% of the area previously under paddy among beneficiaries was converted to alternative crops, with some farmers adopting alternatives only on a pilot basis
Economic returns: The economic impact has been mixed across alternative crops. Vegetables generated relatively high returns of around ₹75,000 per hectare, including the subsidy, making them attractive where suitable markets exist. Maize and cotton generated positive returns of approximately ₹6,000–9,500, including the subsidy. However, the profitability of alternative crops remains less certain than that of paddy in several cases, particularly where market access is weak
Farmer income and incentive effectiveness: Paddy continues to provide greater income assurance for many farmers, reducing the attractiveness of diversification despite the government incentive. Pearl millet generated negative returns even after including the subsidy, highlighting the conflict between water-conservation objectives and farmers’ immediate economic interests. The study therefore suggested that the incentive may need to increase to approximately ₹15,000–20,000 per acre to make diversification more economically attractive
Environmental and sustainability impact: By encouraging alternatives with lower irrigation requirements, MPMV has demonstrated potential to contribute to groundwater conservation and more sustainable agricultural practices. This is consistent with the Government of Haryana’s stated objective of addressing groundwater depletion through incentives for shifting away from paddy

Overall, MPMV has made progress towards its core objectives of crop diversification and water conservation, particularly by creating financial incentives for farmers to adopt less water-intensive crops. However, its impact remains partial because the scale of land conversion remains limited and paddy continues to offer stronger income assurance. The evidence suggests that greater community-level adoption, timely subsidy delivery, stronger market support and more competitive incentives are important for translating the scheme’s potential environmental benefits into sustained changes in Haryana’s cropping pattern.

Emerging Issues

Although Mera Pani Meri Virasat (MPMV) has established an incentive-based framework for crop diversification and groundwater conservation, its long-term effectiveness depends on addressing challenges related to adoption, incentives, implementation and sustainability.

Limited and sustained adoption of crop diversification: The major challenge is ensuring that farmers continue to shift away from water-intensive paddy cultivation rather than adopting alternative crops only for a limited period. (Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Haryana, n.d.).
Economic attractiveness of alternative crops: Farmers’ decisions are strongly influenced by the economic returns and market conditions associated with alternative crops. Where paddy provides greater income security, financial incentives alone may not be sufficient to sustain diversification.
Continued groundwater depletion: The scheme was introduced against the backdrop of declining groundwater levels in paddy-growing areas. Therefore, isolated changes in cropping patterns may not be sufficient to address the broader problem of groundwater stress, particularly in areas where water-intensive cultivation continues.
Implementation and incentive-delivery challenges: The effectiveness of the scheme depends on smooth registration, verification and timely transfer of financial incentives. Delays or administrative difficulties can reduce farmers’ confidence in the programme and weaken participation.
Regional variation in agricultural conditions: The suitability of alternative crops differs across Haryana depending on local water availability, soil conditions and agricultural practices. A uniform approach to crop diversification may therefore produce uneven outcomes across districts.

Way Forward

Addressing these challenges requires moving beyond short-term crop switching towards a sustained, economically viable and region-specific model of agricultural diversification.

Promote sustained and community-based diversification: The government should encourage farmers to adopt alternative crops over multiple seasons and promote collective or cluster-based diversification in groundwater-stressed areas. This can generate a stronger and more sustained reduction in dependence on paddy.
Strengthen the economic viability of alternative crops: Financial incentives should be complemented by better market linkages, assured procurement where feasible, storage facilities and value-chain support. Making alternative crops economically competitive would provide farmers with a stronger reason to diversify beyond the incentive period.
Integrate crop diversification with groundwater management: MPMV should be implemented alongside broader groundwater-conservation measures, with greater focus on areas experiencing critical groundwater stress. This would strengthen the scheme’s original objective of conserving groundwater through changes in cropping patterns
Improve transparency and timely delivery of incentives: The implementation mechanism should continue to be strengthened through digital registration, efficient field verification and timely transfer of incentives. Regular monitoring of beneficiaries and crop conversion can also improve accountability and programme effectiveness
Adopt a region-specific crop diversification strategy: Alternative crops should be promoted according to district-level agro-climatic conditions, water availability and market potential. A region-specific approach would allow farmers to shift towards crops that are both less water-intensive and economically suitable for their local conditions.

Overall, the way forward for MPMV lies in combining financial incentives with market support, groundwater management, efficient implementation and region-specific crop planning. This would help transform the scheme from an incentive for individual farmers into a more sustainable strategy for agricultural and groundwater management in Haryana.

References

Mera Pani Meri Virasat. (2026, May 7). Schemes in India. https://schemesinindia.in/schemes/haryana/mera-pani-meri-virasat-haryana

Bagaria, N., & Jatav, S. S. (2025). Growth dynamics and sustainability of major crops in Haryana, India. Indian Journal of Extension Education, 61(2), 80–84. https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2025.61215

Government of Haryana. (2021, June 11). Mera Paani-Meri Virasat Yojna, which was launched by the Haryana Government last year so as to promote water conservation and crop diversification has finally borne fruit. Directorate of Information, Public Relations & Languages. https://www.prharyana.gov.in/en/mera-panimeri-virasat-yojna-which-was-launched-by-the-haryana-government-last-year-so-as-to-0

Haryana.com Editorial Desk. (2026, August 1). Mera Pani Meri Virasat Yojana: Per-acre incentive explained. Haryana.com. https://www.haryana.com/blog/mera-pani-meri-virasat-yojana

Jose, E., & Ponnusamy, K. (2022). Impact assessment of farm diversification schemes in Haryana, India. Journal of Extension Education, 34(2), 6801–6809. https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2022.2.34.6801-6809

PMUY Admin. (2025, July 16). Mera Pani Meri Virasat Yojana 2025 – Online registration and benefits for Haryana farmers. Sarkari Yojana. https://pmujjwalayojana.in/mera-pani-meri-virasat-yojana/

Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of Haryana. (n.d.). Crop diversification programme – Mera Pani Meri Virasat (Centre+State Plan). https://agriharyana.gov.in/data/SchemeDoc/mera_pani_meri_virasat.pdf

About the contributor
Sneha Kohli is a third-year B.A. (Hons.) Political Science student at Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She has a keen interest in public policy, governance, and policy research, with prior experience in research projects, policy analysis, and academic writing. She values curiosity, critical thinking, and collaborative learning, and looks forward to contributing to and learning from IMPRI’s research ecosystem.

Acknowledgements

The author extends sincere gratitude to the IMPRI team for their expert guidance and Amrutha Kolluru and Prisha Sachdeva for their valuable feedback and support.