With water shortage in Punjab, the state government has sought the Union Government’s permission to be allowed to divert its emphasis in terms of cultivation. The state has decided to cultivate pulses instead of wheat and rice, as the former requires minimum water supply during the cultivation process. A letter has also been sent to the Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar seeking the permission for the state to be allowed to cultivate pulses.

The water table of Punjab has deteriorated by 30 feet in the last decade. Therefore, the Punjab government is seeking the help of other states such as West Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to aid in the agricultural production of wheat and rice. “The well irrigated regions of West Bengal and Bihar are highly suitable for the cultivation of rice. Therefore, with the adequate supply of food grains, food security would be ensured in the country,” says Alok Agarwal, director of Santi Rice Mills Private Limited, a small-sized rice manufacturer in Kolkata.

Due the increasing number of pest attacks, cultivators are compelled to use chemicals in the cultivation of food grains. The high usage of fertilisers and pesticides has also been responsible for the low productivity of rice and wheat in Punjab.

According to Tushar Sachdev, CEO of Pari Foods Private Limited, a mid-sized rice manufacturer and exporter in Amritsar, “Short supply of electricity, especially in rural areas, has always persisted in the state. High wages of the labourers have added to the misery of the cultivators.”  

Adding further to the woes of the cultivators in Punjab is the current minimum support price (MSP). Moreover, the Government of India (GoI) has presented the MSP for wheat and rice, which is not feasible for the state. 

Road ahead

Although Punjab has witnessed high production of rice and wheat over the past few years, it is keen to shift focus towards cultivation of pulses due to scarcity of water. With the appeal made by the Government of Punjab, GoI will have to undertake measures in order to maintain the food supply chain in the country.