In an effort to promote more crop diversification, the finance ministry on Sunday advised states to align their bonus policies to support millets, oilseeds, and pulses in accordance with national aspirations for nutritional security.
The Department of Expenditure Secretary of the Ministry of Finance sent a letter to state chief secretaries on January 9, 2026, advising them to align their bonus policies to support millets, oilseeds, and pulses, but not ordering them to do so, according to a statement from the finance ministry.The ministry highlighted Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's comments on the subject and stated, "The communication to states reflects a constructive & positive approach aimed at strengthening India's long-term food and crop security."

The purpose of the letter was to encourage governments to complement and integrate their agriculture policies with more general national interests. It further stated that states are not burdened by aligning with such goals; rather, it is a shared obligation that benefits farmers, consumers, and the nation at large.
According to the ministry, in order to assist farmers, the Indian government announced the minimum support price (MSP) for a number of crops. However, crop production is still largely skewed toward wheat and paddy in several regions, particularly in northern India.

"When state governments announce an additional bonus over and above MSP for these crops, it further encourages their cultivation, leading to reduced acreage under pulses, oilseeds, and millets, greater environmental stress due to water, and fertilizer-intensive farming, and higher import dependence for essential crops like pulses and edible oilseeds," it stated.
"Therefore, by promoting more crop diversity in the benefit of the country, the Indian government has adopted a prudent and forward-thinking stance. The main goal is to prohibit the monoculture of paddy in numerous Indian states and wheat in some areas of northern India.

"By encouraging states to work towards sustainable agricultural practices that protect both farmers' interests and national food security needs," it stated.
The government stated that increasing domestic production of oilseeds, edible oils, and pulses is crucial for farmer welfare as well as strategic and financial reasons.In addition to boosting nutritional security and encouraging a more resilient and balanced crop pattern in the nation, domestic production of pulses, oilseeds, and edible oil will lessen reliance on imports, which are frequently subject to price volatility, supply-chain interruptions, and international uncertainty," the ministry continued.