Commercialization to Specialization: A Scenario of Punjab Agriculture

The present study was carried out to examine the changes in cropping pattern and the contribution of food grains to central pool over the years by Punjab. The study revealed that the area under wheat and paddy crops, which was 40.50 and 6.90 per cent of gross cropped area (GCA) during 1970–71, has increased to 44.65 and 35.66 per cent during 2011–12, respectively. However, the area under pulses, maize, bajra, oilseeds and sugarcane has declined by 7.18, 3.47, 9.75, 3.61 and 0.69 per cent, respectively. Thus, paddy-wheat crop rotation became predominant at the cost of maize, other cereals, oilseeds and pulses in the state. Food grain production in the state has grown from 20.00 million tonne in 1992–93 to 23.49 million tonne in 2002–03 and further increased to 27.22 million tonne in 2011–12. The share of Punjab state in food grain production has decreased over the years, and came down to 10.57 per cent in 2011–12 from 11.14 per cent in 1992–93. The study revealed that the production in food grains and cropping pattern in Punjab has almost stagnant, and there is a need for diversification of agriculture at this stage. Emphasis must be given on cultivation of water saving crops as well as the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides may be minimized to enhance the sustainable agriculture in Punjab.