PUNJAB AND HARYANA NEED TO DIVERSIFY FROM WHEAT AND PADDY

 

Punjab is the most fertile state on earth. It is best to produce wheat, sugarcane, rice, vegetables, and fruits in Punjab. Punjab’s other name is the Granary of India and India’s breadbasket. Around 93% of the total productive land used to produce food grain. In Punjab, most of the area covered by wheat and paddy cultivation. And this area increases over the year. 

Punjab is the 3rd largest farming crop producing state in India. It is known for its irrigation system and these are appropriate for farming. Punjab is the 3rd largest producer of food grains too. 

The Green Revolution yielded great economic prosperity during its early years. In Punjab,

 where it was first introduced, the Green Revolution led to significant increases in the state's 

agricultural output, supporting India’s overall economy. By 1970, Punjab was producing 70% 

of the country's total food grains, and farmers' incomes were increasing by over 

70%. Punjab's prosperity following the Green Revolution became a model to which other 

states aspired to reach.

India’s export growth over the past decade has been the highest of any country, with an annual rate of more than 21 percent. By comparison, Brazil’s annual exports grew 15 percent over the past decade, China’s grew 12 percent and the United States’ grew nine percent. India’s exports so far in 2014 have remained roughly at last year’s record level. From January-May, rice exports are up 10 percent compared to this time last year, cotton up 2 percent, bovine meat (buffalo) up 18 percent, and wheat up 75 percent. Soybean meal, guar gum, and corn exports, however, are down from this time last year. 

A string of good harvests has left the procurement machinery creaking under the 

weight of rice and wheat., “It’s no longer a green revolution but a grain revolution.” On January 1, India will be holding about 57 million tonnes of rice and wheat against a requirement of 21 MT. Policies framed by the government were intended to lower farmers’ risk, but now “there is no risk. Farmers are behaving like the salaried class — growing something that is bound to be procured by the state.” Availability of cheap power and water, and assured procurement at a price that is higher than the market rate has got farmers in northern states hooked to paddy and rice.

While Haryana claims it has started procuring maize and gram to help farmers diversify, Punjab, by its own admission, has done little to wean farmers off paddy and wheat. Moreover, because of weak finances, it is in no position to launch alternative procurement schemes. Besides, its entire administration — from district magistrates to officers in the secretariat — is geared only to deal with government procurement of wheat and paddy.

For the Centre, the problem is no longer limited to Haryana and Punjab as states like Telangana, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh — traditionally not paddy growers — have had bumper harvests due to improved irrigation. They, too, have stuffed FCI godowns. Between 2014-15 and 2018-19, rice procurement jumped 90% in UP and 73% in MP.

A study by NASA had found that the water table was declining by about 70 centimetres a year from 2008 to 2012 in these two states. The farmers are not unaware that they 

should be switching from paddy to other less water-guzzling crops.