Wheat-paddy rotation reaps a bitter harvest in Punjab

The wheat-paddy rotation trap, declining economic status of agricultural labourers are among the main economic factors contributing to an agrarian problem in Punjab regarded as the country's food bowl.

The declining proportion of cultivators and increase in agricultural labourers and continuing decline in the net income of farmers are the other important factors responsible for the crisis in the agriculture sector in the state.The farmer is entrapped by the wheat-paddy rotation pattern from which he finds it difficult to extricate himself.

Even the Johl committee report in may 1986 had observed that "overdependence" of farmers on wheat and paddy has created an uncertain market situation due to delayed announcement of procurement prices and decreasing demand for Punjab's foodgrains.Over the last 13 years, this position has worsened.

Also, the wheat-paddy rotation pattern has adversely affected the groundwater table, experts say. According to human development report 2004 of the state, the decline in the percentage of cultivators and increase in the percentage of agricultural labourers is an important feature of the agricultural crisis of Punjab.

Cultivators constituted 42.56 per cent of the total workers in Punjab during 1970-71. This proportion declined to 32.83 per cent by 1990-91. During the same period, the percentage of agricultural labourers increased from 20.11 per cent to 23.31 per cent.

These figures indicate a dual processes of pauperisation and proletarianisation, say the report. The operational holdings of marginal farmers during the same period declined from 37.63 per cent to 26.50 per cent, which also reinforced the process of pauperisation and proletarianisation of the peasantry.

Many studies in Punjab have reflected the robust health of state's agriculture and the sound position of small farmers in 1970s and 1980s giving way to subsequent decline in 1990s, say experts.

The studies of Baldev Singh (1982), Sukhpal Singh (1983) and Gill (1986 and 1994) indicate that while land transactions continued, these transactions were not accompanied by pauperisation and proletarianisation.

Nonetheless, it was found that 24 per cent of small farmers and 31 per cent of marginal farmers were living below the poverty line in 1979-80. The proportion of marginal farmers below the poverty line increased to 34.07 per cent by 1990-91.

The agrarian situation toward the later part of 1980s and the entire period of 1990s showed evidence of a steady deterioration in the economic condition of small and marginal farmers.