Introduction

• Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock
• Includes preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to markets
• Agriculture occupies key positions in all economies irrespective of their level of development. It supplies:
  • Foodgrains such as rice, wheat, coarse cereals and pulses
  • Commercial crops such as oilseeds, cotton, jute and sugarcane
  • Plantation crops such as tea, coffee and rubber
  • Horticultural crops such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, cashew nuts and coconut
• Certain allied activities such as milk and dairy products, poultry products and fishery are also included in agricultural sector
• Most developed and industrialised countries received their initial spurt for industrial advancement from agriculture
• The agriculture sector of Punjab has great importance not only in the state’s economy but in the economy of the country as Punjab has played a key role to ensure food security and self-sufficiency in food grains to the Nation. Punjab is one of the most fertile regions on Earth.
• The region is ideal for growing wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, and vegetables. The Punjab State has 87% of its Geographical Area under cultivation. Punjab is often referred to as the ‘Granary of India or ‘Bread Basket of India’. 
  • The percentage of the paddy crop procured was 89.1% in the year 2022-23 while that of the wheat crop was 62.17% in Punjab. Punjab produced approximately 10% and 14% of the total rice and wheat production of India, the respective share of contributions of the rice and wheat crops from Punjab to the Central Pool was approximately 31% and 46% in 2023-24. On a global scale, this represents 3% of the world’s production of these crops.
• The economy of the state primarily depends upon the agriculture sector as 25% of its population is involved in Agriculture and allied activities providing 27% Gross Value Added (GVA) share.

Few facts related to Agriculture sector

Share in GDP

• As per Provisional Estimates of Annual of National Income, released by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on 31st May 2021, share of Agriculture and Allied Sectors in Gross Value Added (GVA) of country during last three years at current prices is given below.  

• As per Economic survey 2021-22, the share of the sector in total GVA of the economy has a long-term trend of around 18 per cent.
• Among agriculture and allied sectors, crops have the highest share in agriculture GDP followed by livestock, forestry and fishing.

Growth

• In recent years, the agriculture sector has displayed an improved growth rate, with an average annual growth rate of 4.18% at constant prices over the last five years. 
• However, the growth rate of the agriculture sector stood at 1.4% in 2023-24, which is below the 4.7% growth rate registered in agriculture in 2022-23. 

(Growth of Agriculture & Allied Sectors: Economic Survey 2023-24)

Share in Workforce

• Share of workforce engaged in agriculture has been declining over the years
• As per census 2011, 54.6% of total workforce is engaged in agriculture (including both cultivators and agricultural labourers)
  • Decline from 2001 when 58.2% of the total workforce was engaged in agriculture.
• Migration of agricultural labour from rural to urban areas is a general phenomenon and a natural part of development process
  • Reasons for this shift include, better employment opportunities in industry and services, increasing urbanisation, low income in agriculture etc
• But, 70% of rural households are still dependent on agriculture

Crop production

• • As per 3rd advance estimates of production of major crops for agricultural year 2022-23 released by Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare,
    • Total foodgrains production- 330.5 Million Tonnes (MT)
      • Rice (135.5 MT)>Wheat (112.7 MT)>Millets (54.7 MT)> Maize (35.9 MT)

• Total pulses production- 27.5 MT (Highest production- Gram)

• Oilseeds production- 41 MT

• • • • Soybean>Rapeseed and Mustard> Groundnut

• Sugarcane production- 494.2 MT

• As per third advance estimates for the year 2021-22, horticulture production increased to 342.33 MT which is the highest ever production for Indian horticulture.
• Share of the crops sector in Agriculture GVA has reduced from 61.75% in 2014-15 to 55.28% in 2022-23.  

(Trend of production of major crops: Economic Survey 2022-23)

Agricultural exports

• In 2021-22, India exported agricultural products worth USD 50 Billion for first time
  • India accounted for 2.33% of the global exports
  • India was 8th largest exporter of agricultural products in 2021-22
• India is net exporter of agricultural products
  • Major agricultural exports from India include rice (both basmati and non-basmati), marine products, sugar, spices, buffalo meat, raw cotton
  • Top 5 commodities in 2021-22 were Rice, Marine Products, sugar, spices and buffalo meat (arranged in order of their respective export value)
• Indian agricultural/horticultural and processed foods are exported to more than 100 countries/regions with USA as largest export destination during 2020-21, followed by other destinations like China, Bangladesh, UAE, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia
• India is world’s largest producer of milk, pulses and jute, and 
  • ranks as second largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, groundnut, horticulture products and cotton
  • India is also one of the leading producers of spices, fish, poultry, livestock and plantation crops

Crops

• A crop is a plant that is cultivated or grown on a large scale. In general, crops are grown so they can be commercially traded. Some details of major crops are given in Table 1.1. However, crops can be classified in several ways, mentioned below: 
  • On the basis of season
  • On the basis of use
  • On the basis of availability of water

On the basis of Season

• Kharif crops: Kharif crops, which are also known as monsoon crops, are the crops which are grown during the monsoon or rainy season (June to October). Their seeds are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season and the crops are harvested at the end of the monsoon season. In northern states like Punjab, Haryana the seeds are sown in the month of June.
  • Kharif crops depend on the rainfall patterns. The timing and quantity of rainwater are the two important factors that decide the output of Kharif crops. The main Kharif crops grown in India include paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, pulses etc.
• Rabi Crops: These crops are also known as winter crops, i.e. the crops are grown in the winter season (October or November). Their seeds are sown at the beginning of the winter season and the crop is harvested at the end of the winter season or in the spring season.
  • Some of the main Rabi crops of India include wheat, gram, oat, barley, potato, and seeds like mustard, linseed, sunflower, coriander, cumin, etc.
• Zaid Crops: Zaid crops are essentially irrigated crops that can be planted between Rabi and Kharif seasons from March to June to give farmers income from a third crop every year. It grows on irrigated lands so that one does not have to wait for monsoons. 
  • E.g. pumpkin, cucumber, bitter gourd.

On the basis of use

• Food Crops: Food crops, such as fruit and vegetables, are harvested for human consumption. Grains, such as corn, wheat, and rice, are the world’s most popular food crops. The Food Crops can be segregated into Pulses and Cereals.
• Commercial Crops: It is an agricultural crop which is grown for sale and earns a profit. It is typically purchased by parties separate from a farm. Sugarcane, cotton, tea and coffee are examples of commercial crops. These crops can be further subdivided into Oil Seed Crops and Beverage Crops.
• Horticulture: Horticulture is the science and art of the development, sustainable production, marketing, and use of high-value, intensively cultivated food and ornamental plants.

On the basis of Water availability

• Rainfed: The most widespread system is rainfed, which depends basically on atmospheric precipitation. It occurs in semi-dry places where the roots should not be flooded. This type of crop is the average of the territories where annual rainfall is less than 500 mm.
• Irrigated: Apart from the rainfed crop, there are irrigated crops that take advantage of the water from the atmospheric precipitations and the land is also irrigated. The irrigated farms are very different from those of rainfed crops. This type of crop due to the need for irrigation facilities requires more investment for the construction of the different channels.

Table of Major Crops

Table 1.1

Classification of Crops on the basis of Seasons

Table 1.2

Classification of Crops on the basis of Use Crops

Agro-Climatic Zones of Punjab

• Punjab has made unparalleled progress in agriculture since the advent of the Green Revolution (in the mid-sixties) with traditional agriculture progressively giving way to modern and commercial agriculture. To understand the prevailing agricultural system for having sustainable production in the state, an overall perspective about its agri-resources is required. Thus, Punjab has been divided into five agro-climatic zones on the basis of homogeneity, rainfall pattern, distribution, soil texture, cropping patterns, etc. 

Agro-Climatic Zones

Flood Plain Area

• The State has a Flood Plain region which is locally known as Bet area. Patiala, Ropar, Sangrur, Bathinda, Ferozepur districts fall under the Bet area. 
  • This region has four components, Satluj, Beas, Ravi & Gagghar with an area of 3500 sq. km which is 7 percent area of the state. The floodplains cut across the state in the east-west cross-section, so the region is not homogenous in climatic conditions.

Food Grain Production

• The food grain production in the state has increased from 3.16 million tons in 1960-61 to 29.02 million tons in 2021-22 as a result of the introduction of High Yielding Varieties & new technologies to the hard-working and highly receptive farmers with the support of the government policies. 
  • However, this cropping system of Punjab is becoming economically and ecologically unviable given the deterioration of soil health, depletion of water table and squeezing of farm incomes as cost of cultivation increases.

Horticulture in Punjab

• It is observed that the share of area under fruits has increased over the years. Punjab has diverse agro-climatic zones which are favorable to production of various fruits such as Kinnow, Sweet Orange, Guava, Pear, Litchi, Peach, etc. This sector can provide good opportunities to diversify the cropping pattern in agriculture away from the current cereal-centric focus to high value and commercial horticultural crops. Thus, some initiatives by the Government have been taken such as: 
  • The Horticulture Department of Punjab has identified land for the establishment of the Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education at Attari, Amritsar.
  • Five Citrus Estates have been established at Badal (Muktsar Sahib Distt.), Abohar (Fazilka Distt.), Tahliwala Jattan (Fazilka Distt.), Bhunga (also known as Hariana) (Hoshiarpur Dist.) and Hoshiarpur.
  • Top three fruits with the highest production recorded in 2022-23 were Kinnow, Guava and Mangoes. The highest yield was seen in Bananas, Grapes and Kinnow. However, the production of pear recorded the highest growth of 8.53% followed by 7.82% growth in the production of plum and 6.11% growth in the production of sweet orange.

Irrigation System in Punjab

• The area irrigated by tube wells has been increasing over a period. The number of tube wells in the State has increased from 10.73 lac in 2000-01 to 15.29 lac in 2022-23, mostly operated on electricity. While the reduction in diesel operated tube wells is better for the environment, excessive ext action of groundwater may not be compatible with sustainable agriculture.
• According to Punjab Guidelines for Groundwater Extraction And Conservation, 2020 (Punjab Water Regulation and Development Authority), the stage of ground water extraction in Punjab varies from 24% in Dhar Kalan block, Pathankot to 368% in Patran Block, Patiala.
• The extraction of groundwater has been classified in the following three categories:
  • Orange: The stage of groundwater extraction exceeding 200% has been designated as Orange because of the higher extent of over-exploitation. These blocks need the most immediate conservation of groundwater in a fast track mode. 44 blocks in Punjab have been put under this category.
  • Yellow: The stage of groundwater extraction between 100% and 199% has been designated as ‘Yellow’ due to overexploitation of groundwater and needs appropriate management and water conservation measures on an urgent basis. 65 blocks in Punjab have been put under this category.
  • Green: The stage of groundwater extraction below 100% has been designated as ‘Green’ (29 in Punjab) and needs appropriate water management measures so that groundwater conditions remain sustainable in the long run.

• One solution is to promote the micro-irrigation system, comprising sprinkler and drip irrigation that enable precision farming by making water available in a targeted manner. Besides being water-saving, it aids soil health management. According to a report, Punjab has a low penetration of Micro Irrigation systems. 
  • Approximately, 48,281 hectares of Punjab’s area is covered under micro-irrigation, as of March 2018. This is less than 0.5% of the total area under micro-irrigation in the country. The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana was initiated to promote precision irrigation and other water saving technologies. The scheme includes four components:
    • Har Khet ko Pani
    • Per Drop More Crop
    • Watershed
    • MGNREGA

Sharing is caring!