Punjab Post Daily Online Newspaper & Print Media
Gunbir Singh Chairperson
Punjab WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature-India)
Amritsar
The natural way combined with latest technologies such as SRI (System of Rice Intensification) & SSI (Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative), As well as mechanization is the only workable substitute to the toxic chemical farming that has destroyed the elements of nature. Cultivation in Punjab is defined today by excessive fertilizer inputs, unnecessary toxic pesticide dosages, burning of valuable rice & wheat straw, As well as over drawing of subsoil water reserves. This has degraded environmental quality at one end, and health of citizens at the other. Punjab today is in the Red Zone since water supply has dwindled. Straw burning depletes productivity due to smog & burns essential Soil salts as well as healthy organisms that foster growth. Poisonous inputs are fostering disease in the entire region.
Food Security provided by Punjab to the nation has taken a huge toll to its elements of nature. Supplies to the India Food pool have Also consistently dwindled since other regions that are amply rain fed are producing rice in paddy fields across India. In 1981Punjab contributed 73% to the national wheat pool, which is now down to below 44%. Similarly rice to the national food pool has fallen From 45% to 28%. Why should the farmers of Punjab be producing thirsty crops that deplete its natural elements when alternate Crops can get better returns and be produced naturally. Punjab with 2% of cultivable land area is usurping 18% of pesticides. In 37 years with growth of just 3.2% in arm area, NPK fertiliser consumption has grown 791%. This is all bad news and change needs to be fostered sooner than later.
However, hand holding the farmer, connecting them directly with the consumers especially for organic produce, providing opportunities as well as protecting their remuneration shall be challenges that need to be met by a constant interface between states, private business and well meaning social welfare organizations.
“The North, especially Punjab, has been the front runner of the Green Revolution since the 1960’s. Today however a natural & organic renaissance is imperative to curtail degradation of air, water and soil. Further toxic dosages to boost productivity have proved futile in the past decade. Sustainable practices, supported by state and union governmental interventions for subsidised organic inputs and awareness campaigns, is the only way forward to avoid the looming catastrophe of falling revenues for the Farming community.”
Agro Tech hosted by CII in collaboration with the states of Punjab & Haryana as well as the Union Government has become a lead farm technology fair of the country. This 4 day event has merited participation from 37 nations and inaugurated by Premier Brad Well of Saskatechwan, Canada along with CM’S of Punjab & Haryana.
