Paddy Cultivation in Punjab: Challenges and Attempts at Diversification

The Punjab government has been striving to diversify the state's crop mix, yet the state continues to see a near-record area dedicated to paddy cultivation. Last year, Punjab witnessed a historic high of 32.44 lakh hectares under paddy. Current trends indicate a similar acreage this year. Understanding the context is essential to grasp this persistent issue.

Current Agricultural Landscape

• The total area under cultivation during the kharif season in Punjab is approximately 35-36 lakh hectares.
• In 2022, this figure was 35.2 lakh hectares.
• Main kharif crops include paddy, cotton, maize, pulses (moong, urad, arhar), oilseeds (groundnut, sesame), and sugarcane.
• Paddy dominates, accounting for over 92% of the kharif acreage last year.

Issues with Paddy Monoculture

• Repeated cultivation of the same crop increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.
• Paddy cultivation depletes soil nutrients, leading to higher dependence on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
• It is a water-intensive crop, significantly contributing to the declining groundwater table, which falls by about 0.5 meters annually.

Attempts at Diversification

Punjab has introduced several schemes and policies to tackle the paddy monoculture issue, including a pilot project to shift 12,000 hectares to maize and expand cotton cultivation by 15%.

• Despite these efforts, non-paddy kharif crops would cover only 3.16 lakh hectares, while paddy would still occupy around 32.04 lakh hectares, maintaining a 91% share of kharif acreage.
• The Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act of 2009 delayed the cropping cycle, forcing farmers to burn paddy stubble, contributing to regional air pollution.

Factors Sustaining Paddy Dominance

• Current plans lack ambition and have limited impact.
• Guaranteed procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) makes paddy more attractive than alternatives like maize or pulses.
• Government policies, including free electricity for irrigation and fertilizer subsidies, are aligned with paddy cultivation.
• Farmers remain risk-averse and prefer the assured returns provided by MSP.

Recommendations for Effective Diversification

Experts suggest that diversification efforts need to be significantly scaled up, supported by strong market mechanisms, MSP for alternative crops, and changes in farm-level economics and infrastructure.