Agriculture
is the mainstay of Punjab`s economy and 97 per cent of the total
cultivable area is under the plough. The main crops grown are wheat,
rice and cotton. Priority is being given to sugarcane, oil seeds,
horticulture and forestry. Punjab farmers grew 211.61 lakh tonnes of
foodgrains in 1997-98.
Percentage
contribution of wheat and rice to the Central Pool is 64.1 and 42
respectively, whereas cotton production constitutes 20 per cent of the
national production. The state has recorded highest yield per hectare of
wheat, rice, cotton and bajra. Per capita milk and egg production is
highest in the country. Large quantities of the surplus of agriculture
produce is available for agro-based industries.
The
state has an enterprising peasantry activity supported by
the
government .With only 2.99% of area sown and 3.90% of total cropped area
of the country, the state on an average, account for 23% of Wheat , 14 %
of cotton and 10% of rice production of the whole country. Punjab is the
largest single contributor to the central pool of rice and wheat.
Consolidation
of land holdings and subsequent advent of ' Green Revolution ' in the
late sixties through the introduction of high yielding varieties ,
assured irrigation and use of fertilizers harnessed by hard working
peasantry resulted in soaring productivity levels. In the year 1997-98 (
for which comparative data are available) per hectare yield of 3853 kgs
of wheat , 3465 kgs of rice and 477 kgs of cotton in Punjab where higher
by 70% , 86% and 80% yield levels at all India level.
In
1997-98 Punjab state had the highest per capita availability of 904 kgs
of food grains per annum which stands way above the average for the
country.
To
reduce dependence on wheat , paddy rotation , the state government is
encouraging gradual shift in the cropping pattern to oil seeds such as
Sun-flower and Soya beans with positive results. The state is on he
threshold of a second spurt n productivity levels.
Cooperatives:
Cooperative
organizations are involved in every aspect of agricultural production,
processing and marketing. They supply credit, know-how and inputs,
purchase crops, process and market finished goods and provide extension
services to every village in the state.
|
|
For
Incentives to Agro Industries
|
Allied
Economic Activities :
Dairy
Farming:
Dairy
farming as an ancillary avocation to agriculture is getting popular.
White revolution has already been ushered. The total production of
milk in 1997-98 touched 7.16 million tonnes. Per capita availability
of milk of 845 gms per day was highest amongst all other states of the
Indian union. The state is served by 44 milk plants and chilling
Centres and 2424 veterinary institutions.
Poultry
farming 
Poultry
farming on scientific lines is being adopted increasingly. Egg
production in 1997-98 reached 2850 million. The state had the highest
per capita availability of 125 eggs per annum amongst other states of
the union.
Main
Exports of the State :
Food
products to USA, UK, France and Middle East
Textiles,
woolen and cotton, hosiery and ready-made garments to USSR, Norway, UK,
USA and West Asia
Leather
goods to West Germany, Jordan and UK
Other Economic
Activities:
Goods
transport:
Punjabis are the truckers of the nation and therefore it is
only to be expected that one can transport goods from anywhere in
Punjab and out of Punjab, facilitated by the extensive network of
roads in the state.
