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Gone are the days when Punjab had earned the title of “India’s bread basket.” The state was viewed as the most dynamic and progressive state of the country, particularly on account of its success in the agrarian sector during the green revolution. Today’s Punjab is the story of farmers’ suicide, youth unrest and the storey of a dying civilisation.The crisis in agriculture has manifested itself in the form of stagnating productivity, rising cost of production, decelerating income, shrinking employment, escalating indebtedness and ecological imbalance.
Agricultural issues in Punjab :
1.Monocropping and Faulty Cropping Practices :
The primary reason for the looming environmental crisis in Panjab is the introduction of intensive agriculture under the Green Revolution. The double monocropping of wheat and rice has increased the grain harvest in Panjab since the sixties. However, this has resulted in water use beyond its sustainability due increased demand for irrigation. In addition, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has added to the environmental degradation.The soils of Panjab have become deficient in micronutrients in a space of 45 years. Intensive agriculture practices have deteriorated the pedosphere, lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere of Panjab.
2.Pricing of Agricultural Products :
Ceilings on the pricing of agricultural products imposed by the Central government of India on the Panjabi farmers have restricted the planting of crops other than wheat and rice. Government interventions like the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement policies have had adverse effects for the Panjabi farmers.India has achieved food surplus status and profited but it is unfortunate that these gains were not passed on to the farmers of Punjab state.
3.The Pesticide Dilemma :
Although Punjab state is only 1.5 % of the land area of India, it uses about 18% of the total pesticide usage in India. Moreover, the south-western districts of Malwa region are consuming about 75% of pesticides used in Punjab state. There are serious environmental problems and health concerns resulting from the use of pesticides. Studies in Panjab have shown that there are pesticide residues in breast milk, milk from cattle, and in fruits and vegetables.
4.GM( Genetically modified ) Crops:
Farmers who have grown Bt cotton have found that the crop is not resistant to pests and they have to spray insecticides sold by the GM company. Rapeseed mustard (sarson - Brassica juncea) is one of the most important oilseed and food crops in Panjab. An Indian company has developed a GM variety of mustard. This new GM mustard variety with five foreign genes in it, might pose risks for human health and the environment. GM mustard will also be a sensitive issue in Panjab as it contains a tobacco gene.
5.Plight of the Farmers: Debts and Suicides :
The cost of agricultural production has increased every year but the income of the Panjabi farmers has not increased. Farmers are spending more to buy costly inputs for agricultural production. They face endless power cuts and if they have to depend on generators, that is also expensive as diesel costs are increasing. Farming today is essentially a debt-based activity.A survey by the MASR estimated that about 40,000 farmers have so far committed suicide in the state over the past 17 years.However, some are unfortunately recommending technological solutions, contract farming and the use of big corporations in agribusiness instead of looking for holistic and sustainable solutions.
6.Landless Farmers :
The Green Revolution has resulted in a growing pauperisation of marginal and poor peasants, thus adding to the landless. They have no employment chances in urban areas because there is insufficient industrial development. Many farmers are in debt and are unable to pay their loans.After generations, the repayment of the debt becomes impossible. Hence, they and their families end up as bonded laboures to the landlords.
7.Climate change Impact on Agriculture :
There will be a major effect on agrosystems in Panjab due to climate change. The depletion of soil water will result in moisture stress, poor harvest and lower productivity.Climate change would also affect the landuse patterns of agriculture and herding. Further, the desiccation of semi-arid areas would also endanger food production in the plains of Panjab. The economic liberalization of Panjab will be essential to the opening up of agriculture, which will lead to a diversification of cropping patterns in the changing climatic patterns.
Way Forward :
There is an urgent need for the diversification of agriculture in Punjab with the emphasis on the application of integrated farm principles, implementation of sustainable practices, organic farming, green farming and environmental friendly techniques. This entails the use of an holistic approach using eco-farming and agro-ecological principles and based on local agro-climatic conditions. There must be changes in cropping patterns to include the planting of vegetables, fruits, herbs, mushrooms, fibre crops, oilseeds and fodder crops. Others are medicinal, aromatic and spice crops. Panjabi farmers can also diversify through floriculture, horticulture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, apiculture and silviculture. These will provide rural employment through village based agro-industries. In addition, there has to be adequate infrastructure for harvesting, post-harvest handling, processing, storage, quality control and assured marketing.There is also an urgent need for a change in government policies to overcome the effects of environmental degradation in Panjab. These include the removal of subsidies for fertilizers and electricity, the reform of commodity prices, and improving the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce.
By: Harman Sandhu ProfileResourcesReport error
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