Punjab, historically celebrated as the “Granary of India,” has been a cornerstone of the nation’s agricultural sector, playing a vital role in ensuring India’s food security. The state rose to prominence during the Green Revolution, with its high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice feeding millions. However, this success has come at a significant environmental and socioeconomic cost, which now threatens the sustainability of its agricultural system. Punjab faces critical challenges, including the alarming depletion of groundwater due to the cultivation of water-intensive crops like rice, declining soil health caused by excessive use of chemical inputs, and the widespread practice of stubble burning, which contributes to severe air pollution and public health concerns. Additionally, the state suffers from a lack of crop diversification, with an over-reliance on wheat and rice limiting both farmers’ incomes and the region’s agricultural resilience.
In response to pressing agricultural challenges, the Punjab government has released a draft Agriculture Policy for public consultation, offering stakeholders the chance to shape the state’s agricultural future. The policy focuses on sustainable practices, including crop diversification, resource-efficient technologies, and climate-resilient innovations. It also emphasizes improving market access, developing value chains, and enhancing infrastructure to make alternative crops more profitable, while engaging farmers in practical solutions for effective implementation.
This conference aims to critically evaluate the draft policy, fostering dialogue among policymakers, researchers, farmers, social activist NGOs and industry leaders. By generating actionable recommendations, the event seeks to co-create a robust framework for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient agricultural future in Punjab.
