Question

The government of Punjab is encouraging its farmers to shift away from rice cultivation.

1. What has prompted this action?
2. Which alternate crops are encouraged?

Answer 1

The government of Punjab is encouraging farmers to shift away from rice cultivation mainly due to the excessive depletion of soil fertility and unsustainable use of groundwater for water-intensive rice crops. The continuous rice-wheat cropping pattern has led to deterioration of soil health and declining water tables, prompting the need for crop diversification to preserve environmental sustainability and ensure long-term agricultural productivity.

As alternate crops, Punjab is encouraging farmers to adopt more sustainable and less water-consuming crops such as pulses, millets (like ragi, jowar, bajra), oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and industrial crops. These crops help in soil restoration, reduce water consumption, and provide economic benefits due to market demand.