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PUNJAB- is this growth sustainable

PUNJAB food basket of INDIA

Punjab produces 1% of rice, 2% of wheat and 2% of cotton of the world, leading all the states in per hectare yield of all these crops.

Its per capita income (2006) at Rs 28,605 is way above the national average of just Rs 6,929. Punjab also claims a 100% rural

electrification as well as almost 99% connectivity of villages by road against the national average of just over 40%.

The real GDP growth of Punjab from 2007-08 to 2008-09 has been about 14% as compared to its neighbor Haryana that grew at about

18% during the same period. This is an indicator of the growth stagnation for Punjab’s economy that’s highly dependent upon

agriculture to an extent of 65%.

Is this all because of GREEN REVOLUTION…....?

The beginnings of the Green Revolution are often attributed to Norman Borlaug, an American scientist interested in agriculture.

Dr. Norman E. Borlaug receives the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007. Burlaug , a 1970 Nobel Laureate, was honored for his work in the ‘Green Revolution’, saving millions of lives from famine in India , Mexico, and the Middle East.

HISTORY OF GREEN REVOLUTION

What was the green revolution?

• A movement starting post WWII to address food shortages in developing countries

• International relief organizations invested in research to breed more productive rice and wheat crops

• New agricultural technologies were brought to India- fertilizer, agrochemicals, new types of irrigation

Methods used in Green Revolution

Double/Multiple cropping system Seeds with superior genetics Proper irrigation system HYV seed Use of pesticides and fertilizers Use of modern machinery(tractor , harvestor etc)

High Yielding Varieties Seeds are highly responsive

to certain key inputs such as fertilizers and irrigation water.

In the absence of additional inputs of fertilizers and water, the new seeds perform worse than indigenous varieties.

The gain in output is insignificant compared to the increase in inputs.

Why was a revolution needed?

Famine had ripped though parts of India in the past, and many economists and agricultural scientists predicted worse famine in the future is a new plan was not put in place

Overpopulation was stretching India’s food resources

Government inability to ensure proper movement of good to areas that were in need

Achievements of the Green Revolution

1. As a result of the Green Revolution our country has become self-sufficient in food grains.2. As a result of the Green Revolution we have been able to create buffer stocks of food grains which can be used in the event of natural calamities such as droughts and floods which result in fall in crop production.3. The Green Revolution has changed the life style of our farmers. Due to higher crop yields, they are able to earn more money and hence can lead a better life.4. As a result of the Green Revolution, the demand for various agricultural inputs has increased tremendously. This has created a large number of employment opportunities.

a

Is this growth

sustainable?

But

Limitation of green revolution

The Green Revolution, howsoever impressive, but NOT a 100% success.

Only Punjab and Haryana states showed best results of Green Revolution.

The new farming techniques, has given birth to the serious pollution of drinking water causing cancer and other diseases.

A recent Punjabi University study found a high rate of genetic damage among farmers, which was attributed to pesticides use.

The new organic fertilizer, pesticides and chemicals are running the soil.

Lead to unemployment and Rural-Urban Immigration

Green revolution:Environmental impacts Intensification of agriculture causes

environmental harm: Pollution from synthetic

fertilizers. Pollution from synthetic

pesticides. Water depleted for irrigation. Fossil fuels used for heavy

equipment.

However, without the green revolution, much more land (wastage)would have been converted for agriculture , destroying forests, wetlands, and other ecosystems

Increased use of pesticides Because of their narrow genetic

base, HYVs are inherently vulnerable to major pests and diseases.

Large-scale monoculture provides a large and often permanent niche for pests, turning minor diseases into epidemics

In addition, fertilizers have been found to lower plants' resistance to pests.

The result has been a massive increase in the use of pesticides, in itself creating still further pest problems due to the emergence of pesticide-resistant pests.

Disadvantages of the green Revolution Poor farmers could not afford

HYV’s(high yield varieties) fertilizers and machinery.

Some borrowed and ended up with large debts.

HYV’s need more water and fertilizer, which is expensive.

New machinery replaced manual labour leading to unemployment and rural –Urban migration.

What were the ecological consequences? Problems with soil fertility

Micronutrient issues Increased Dependence of

external application of fertilizers. Water quality issues. Ecological degradation caused

returns to decrease at the years went on.

Loss of diversity. Improper application of

pesticides caused poisoning.

Activist poster from the 1980s calling for an end to pesticide use

What were the social and political consequences.

Changed the nature of agriculture, from internal to external inputs (buying seed, fertilizer etc.)

The rapid increase in grain in the first several years drove down the price of food, harder for small farmers to make a profit

It increased competition for smaller resources, rural inequality

Decreasing return on investments caused many farmers to blame government

Feelings of resentment among farmers Farm riots

Crisis in Punjab in 1970’s

Conclusion Green revolution is fruitful for production, but only for wheat

production. Punjab is the only state in India which production was increases

rapidly. In terms of Fertilizer usage in Agricultural-sector, consumption of

Punjab is higher then any other state of India. During Green revolution i.e. 1967-93 the percentage of labour in

agriculture sector were increasing hence decreasing there wages.

During 1967-93 the usage of bullocks was decreasing rapidly and increase in tractor usage i.e. they were unemployed.

IS FOOD BASKET HEALTY ?

Punjab consumes highest amount of fertilizers in the country amounting to almost 10% of the national consumption with just 1.5% of

the geographical area of the country. According to a research done by Punjab Agricultural University in 2007,

Punjab has already lost 5.1 mn tonnes of nitrogen, 2.5mn tonnes of phosphorous and 4.7mn tonnes of potassium.

On top of it, the water level in Punjab has been falling by 50 to 70 cm every year which is another matter of concern.

And already, 97% of the cultivable land is under plough indicating no further expansion of the cultivable land

Land consolidation. Small or marginal farmers have found it difficult to benefit from HYVs,

machinery and fertilizers in their fields due to which the wealth disparities have widened further than before.

Installing pumps and using higher amount of fertilizers have increased the cost of production, thereby increasing the average debt taken by the farmers.

In such a situation, the chances of long term sustainability of the supernatural productivity levels

are very dim.

Also, Every year, a lot of subsidies have to be provided to the farmers in form of cheap electricity, loan waivers and lower interest rates. These costs are seldom counted as the costs of production in

awarding the success crown to Punjab.

BUT

It’s high time that Punjab government takes note of the worsening situation in the region and creates alternative employment opportunities for its citizens. But more importantly, it should start conducting intensive researches on the situation of agriculture in the state and plan well ahead for its sustainability. Otherwise, the food basket can again turn into a beggary bowl for its citizens.

BEGGARY BOWL…?

THANK YOU

Presented ByMohit Jaswani