Preference for wheat, rice limiting Punjab farmers' incomes

Scientists in Punjab feel that the central government’s ambitious goal of doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022 could be ‘difficult’ to achieve in the state because of the high productivity levels of wheat and rice and an extremely high cropping intensity, almost 204 per cent, that makes diversification to other crops challenging.

Moreover, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Punjab at constant prices has risen by just 11.6 per cent in the six years to 2015-16, while to double farmers’ incomes, the GSDP from agriculture (crops and livestock) needs to rise from an estimated Rs 87,532 crore