Punjab’s Crop Diversification Plan Falters as Rice Claims 92%

Punjab wants farmers to grow more crops instead of mostly rice.

However, rice now uses more than 92% of the state’s kharif farmland.

Other crops such as cotton, maize and pulses are using less land than before.

Sugarcane has increased only a little.

Farmers say rice is easier to sell because government agencies, markets and storage systems are already organized for it.

Other crops may have higher prices on paper, but farmers are unsure who will buy them.

Officials and farmer leaders say farmers need guaranteed income before they will leave rice.

The heavy focus on rice is also linked to concerns about Punjab’s soil and groundwater.