Government for crop diversification in Punjab to save soil, water
overnment plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18784139.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18784139.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18784139.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/18784139.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
The
government plans to revive cultivation of crops that make Punjab's
iconic "makki ki roti and sarson ka saag" -- maize and mustard -- along
with horticulture and fodder to breathe life into the stressed soil and
the rapidly depleting water table in the green-revolution state.
- The growth rate of Punjab’s agriculture fell to 3% between 1987 to 2005 and it went durther down to 1.6% between 2006 and 2015.
- This is less than half the all-India average of 3.5%.
What is the problem?
- Punjab is endowed with one of the best possible infrastructures for agriculture in the country.
- The network of regulated mandis in Punjab is one of the best in the country.
- A robust and fast-moving procurement system has reduced the market risks of wheat and paddy growers in the state.
- Almost 90% of the market arrivals is procured at the minimum support price (MSP).
- So, this system has made Punjab’s farmers risk averse.
- This also discourages farmers from diversifying the wheat-rice cycle e.g Diversification from common rice to hybrid maize.
- Farmers are reluctant to switch as there is no effective procurement system for this crop.
- Lack of diversification poses a threat of ecological imbalance.
What could be done?
- With the GST coming into force, the processing industry could be incentivised to prefer Punjab over other states in purchasing agricultural raw material.
- There should be vigorous efforts to increase productivity and procurement of rice in the eastern states.
- Simultaneously, Punjab should promote the use of micro-irrigation, especially for sugarcane and fruits and vegetables.
- The dairy and meat industries are other sources of diversification for Punjab’s agriculturalists.
- They can also diversify towards fruit and vegetables.
- The government will also need to invest in marketing infrastructure for fruit and vegetables, as it did for grains by creating a robust mandi infrastructure.
- A modern expressway from Khanna (Punjab) to Kandla (Gujarat) could be helpful in the faster transportation of fruit and vegetables.
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