Theme-V-7-Water management for food security in Punjab.

Abstract

Punjab has 20 districts and is predominantly an agrarian state. Green Revolution has changed the overall scenario of agriculture in Punjab. The state's contribution in rice, wheat and cotton production at national level is remarkable. The state of Punjab with only 1.6% of the total geographical area of the country, is contributing 40-50% rice, 60-65% wheat and 20-25% cotton to the central pool since last three decades (NRAA, 2009). About 85% of the state's area is cultivated with cropping intensity of more than 188%. During last 35 years, the area under food grains has increased from 39 lakh ha to 63 lakh ha and the production of rice and wheat has increased from 1.8 to 4 tonnes/ha and 2.2 to 4.5 tonnes/ha, respectively. This change in cropping pattern has tremendously increased irrigation water requirements and irrigated area constitutes about 95% of the cultivated area.