Economic Benefits & Ecological Cost Of Green Revolution:A Case Study Of Punjab:

Department: Environmental & Conservation Sciences University of Swat

M.sc 1st Semester

Presented By: “Sayed Tabarak Shah”

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF GREEN REVOLUTION

GSDP AND EMPLOYMENTSHIFT AND LAND UTILIZATIONPRODUCTION & PRODUCTIVITY TRENDS

ECOLOGICAL COST OF GREEN REVOLUCTION

UNSUSTAINABLE CROPING PATTERNUNSUSTAINABLE GROUNDWATER EXPLOITATIONUNPLANNED CANAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM & PROBLEM OF WATER LOGGINGEXCESSIVE USE OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS & PESTICIDES

Economic Benefits Of Green Revolution:

From the economic point of view, the agriculture in state of Punjab has made specular progress during the last three decades in the world history of agriculture development.(Rangi And Sidhu 1998)

The state of Punjab was known as ‘Bread Basket’.

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Although, Punjab encompasses of 1.5 percent of the total geographical area of the country.

It produce 21% of wheat, 10% of rice and 8% of Cotton.

GSDP & Employment:

The agriculture sector of Punjab become the leader in economic development.

In the case of Punjab economy, agriculture sector constituted 54.27% in GSDP (1970-71) which slowly come down to 29.87%(2008-09).

In 1971 out of the total work force 62.67%,after three decades period it decrease to 38.95%(2001).

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The share of agriculture sector is employment is very high as compared to the industrial sector.

The share of industrial sector in employment of the total work force was 11.30%(1970-71) and it decreased to 8.41%(2001).

The agriculture sector was not only the growth driver of the GSDP of the state but also a major source of income for a large proportion of the total population

Shift In Land Utilization:

The quantity and quality of land resources in particular region played an important role in the agricultural development.

Punjab encompasses total geographical area of 5033 thousand hectares, which constitute about 1.53% of the total geographical area of the country.

The land utilization of state geographical area 83% is the net sown area.

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In (1970-71) the uncultivable land was declined from 208 thousand hectares to 23 thousand hectares in (2008-09).

In (1960-61) the fallow Land declined from 313 thousand hectares to 39 thousand hectares in (2008-09).

In (1960-61) the net sown area has increased from 3757 thousand hectares t0 4171 thousand hectares in(2008-09).

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In (1960-61) the cropped area has also progressed from 4732 thousand hectares to 7912 thousand hectares in (2008-09).

In (1960-61) the cropping intensity has also progressed from 126 to 189 in (2008-09).

Production & Productivity Trends:

After the introduction of new methods of cultivation of production and productivity increased in Punjab, which increased overall growth of the economy.

At the initial stage, Green Revolution in Punjab was confined to wheat and never rice growing area, but after few year, new varieties of rice also become popular with the farmers (Sidhu, 2004).

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The production of wheat increased from 1244kg/hectare in (1960-61) to 4507kg/hectare in (2007-08).

The production of rice increased from 1009kg/hectare in (1960-61) to 4019kg/hectare (2007-08).

All crops except maize, grams, ground nut have show an increase in production, but the production of wheat & rice has been much higher in comparison of other crops.

Ecological Cost Of Green Revolution:

It is quite difficult to calculate the monetary of all types of environmental degradation, but it is possible to know that how much environmental quality is being given in the name of agriculture development.

India achieved self-sufficiency in food production only due to green revolution.

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In intensive cropping system, the excessive use of agro chemical pollutes water ways, poisons people and upsets eco-systems(WDR, 2008).

Punjab has been left with diseased soil, pest infested crops, ground water depletion, water logging deserts and indebted & discontented farmers (Shiva, 1989).

Unsustainable Cropping Pattern:

The most dramatic transformation in the cropping pattern is clearly the replacement of the multiple cropping patterns with a cropping pattern dominated by just two crops.

At the start of Green Revolution HYV seeds were available only for few crops which conge cropping pattern adversely from mixed forming to monoculture.

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In (1960-61) wheat occupied an area of 1400 thousand hectares, gram 838 thousand hectares, maize 327 thousand hectares and rice 227 thousand hectares with total cropped area of 32.04%, 15.54%, 7.48%, 5.19% respectively in Punjab.

The total cropped area in (2008-09) under wheat and rice increased to 49.20% and 38.17%, where as gram and maize decreased to 0.04% and 2.11% respectively.

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Thus the area under wheat and rice went up from 37.23 per cent in the year (1960-61) to 87.37 per cent in the year (2008-09).

The declined in the area under pulses and increase in area under hybrid wheat-paddy cycle has a serious impact on the fertilityof soil.

Unstainable Groundwater Exploitation:

The groundwater plays an important role for the agriculture development since rainfall meets 20% of irrigation requirements only, about 77% of the land area irrigated from different sources.Due to which groundwater table is successively going down (Jeevandas 2008).

The area irrigated by tube wells has increased from 55.09% in (1970-71) to 72.59% in (2008-09).

Unplanned Canal Irrigation System & Problem Of Water Logging:

The economists concentrated more on the impact of irrigation on productivity of land, rather than on water efficiency (Nadkarni, 1987).

Both salinity and water logging occur when agricultural land is over irrigated.

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Due to unplanned canal irrigation system and inadequate drainage system the south western districts of the state have been facing the problems of water logging and soil salinity.

The area under water logging was 233400 hectare (1998) and it decreased to 12000 hectare (2006).

In Faridkot, Ferozepur and Bathinda.

Excessive Use Of Chemical Fertilizer And Pesticides:

The uses of chemical fertilizers and pesticides when increased as one of the major reasons behind the environmental crisis in Punjab's agricultures.

The excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer and pesticides has increased the concentration of nitrates and pesticides residual in soil, water, food and feed.

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In comparison to the other states of India, the formers Punjab inclined more to word HYV seeds and for the consumption of fertilizers.

The consumption of fertilizer increased (1965-66) so rapidly in Punjab that it left all other states far behind (Chadha, 1986).

Punjab is using now 8% of fertilizers through out all consumption of India.

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The consumption of pesticides in Punjab increased from 3200 (MT) in (1980-81) to 5970 (MT) in (2005-06).

Current status of consuming pesticides is 17% in India.

Out of these more than 90% of pesticides are used in cultivation of cotton, rice and vegetables.

CONCLUSION:

The above analysis provide from the economic point of view. The Punjab farmer are using each and every part of the soil for cultivation purposes.

That’s why the net sown area in Punjab is the highest as compared to other states of the country.

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After introducing the new technologies of cultivation the production relations in Punjab’s agriculture is completely transferred from traditional to modern agriculture.

The total production of all crops increased very sharply and can make Punjab is one of the richest state in economic terms.

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But on the other hand Punjab has been suffering a lot of ecological point of view. The heavy input based agriculture is effecting the environment and human health, its cropping pattern, access to ground water, cost of cultivation and soil fertility. It is one of the major reasons that the area under artificial irrigation (tube wells and wells).

Thank you !

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