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Source-This post on Shift in Cropping Patterns has been created based on the article “Unintended consequence Shift in paddy sowing is not helping” published in “Business Standard” on 6 June 2024.
UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Major Crops – Cropping Patterns in various parts of the country.
Context-India is expecting a normal monsoon this year, which will boost agricultural production. However, groundwater depletion in certain states may limit the impact of the monsoon. The states of Punjab and Haryana have witnessed severe groundwater depletion due to the wheat-paddy cultivation cycle.
Paddy, a water-guzzling crop, occupies around 88% of the kharif cropped area in Punjab and 52% in Haryana. Groundwater extraction rates in Punjab and Haryana are alarmingly high at 163.76% and 135.74%, respectively, compared to the national average of 59.26%.
What environmental legislation have state governments enacted to address groundwater depletion?
To address groundwater depletion, Punjab and Haryana enacted Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (PPSWA) and the Haryana Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (HPSWA).
Objective- These laws aimed to make sure farmers planted paddy when the monsoon started by stopping them from planting too early.
What are the unintended consequences?
1) They had an unintended consequence of increasing stubble burning and air pollution in northern India.
2) The shift in paddy transplantation by over a month led to a shorter window between harvesting and planting the next rabi crop, forcing farmers to burn crop residue.
3) Stubble burning coincides with low wind speeds in northern India, exacerbating air pollution.
Read more-Challenges faced by Indian Agriculture
Why were these laws rendered ineffective?
1) The laws became ineffective because of the high minimum support prices (MSP) set for paddy and the subsidies on inputs, which encouraged farmers to increase paddy cultivation. This resulted in excessive extraction of groundwater and an increase in stubble generation.
2) The government has taken steps to encourage crop diversification, such as proposing to procure alternative crops like masoor, urad, arhar, maize, and cotton at MSP over the next five years. However, the assured procurement of wheat and paddy for the central pool, coupled with higher returns, prevents farmers from diversifying.
What should be the way forward?
Instead of doing away with the laws, there is a need for crop diversification, adoption of direct seeded rice, paddy straw management, and raising MSP and assured procurement for alternative crops.
Question for practice
Why have environmental legislations aimed at controlling groundwater depletion been rendered ineffective?
