From paddy fields to sweet corn and vegetables, a farmers-led crop diversification story is unfolding in Sonipat district’s Manauli village, where a shift from the traditional paddy-wheat cycle has made farming more lucrative for several families.

In 2004, Arun Chauhan’s family earned nearly Rs 10,000 from paddy on their farmland in Manauli. The turning point came when they ventured into sweet corn, with returns rising to around Rs 14,000 per acre.

“We would have continued with the paddy-wheat cycle for many more years had I not visited a friend’s farm who had been successfully cultivating strawberries. After knowing about his increased income, I too decided to opt for sweet corn and vegetables,” said Chauhan, 59.

Of the family’s 28 acres, sweet corn was initially cultivated on 10 acres. The area has since risen to 17.…