An analysis of crop diversification in Rup Nagar district of Punjab

Abstract

After green revolution era there is continuous changes in crop pattern of Punjab which focused only on wheat-paddy circle because of technical development in both crops like HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides etc. No doubt this diminished the food problem of the country and enhances the income of farmers. The shift from traditional crops to these food crops also leads to the problems like depletion of ground water, soil degradation and ecological imbalance (Sidhu et al 2010). Because paddy crop needs huge water but in Punjab the ground water and canal irrigated area is relatively less. The burning of residue of paddy is also challenge for the government because of air pollution and soil degradation (Sharma 2008). Irrigation facilities are the reason for adoption of this crop cycle and decline of area gram, oilseeds, cotton, vegetables and pulses. Wheat and paddy are economically secured because having MSP and other crops have fluctuations every year (Sharma 2008).Cost of production is increases because of diseases and soil degradation but there is stagnation in production and growth rate of agriculture. After 1980s every decade decline in growth rate of agriculture (Kumar and Singh 2010). The monoculture of wheat-paddy leads to excessive use natural resources and chemical use which results the depletion of ground water, soil degradation and steady growth of agriculture. The diversification will be the solution for this. Government adopts many schemes for this but there is very steady growth in this diversification.