Analysis of “Ground Reality” Report: Soil Degradation and Agricultural Challenges in Punjab
Key Issue: Declining Soil Health
- Punjab’s soil is losing its ability to yield crops without heavy dependence on chemical fertilizers.
- Organic Carbon Content: Punjab’s soils have only 6.9% high organic carbon content in 2024-25 (down from 12.7% in 2023-24), compared to the national average of 17.9%.
Causes of Soil Degradation
- Green Revolution Practices:
- Introduction of high-yield rice-wheat cropping systems (RWCS) led to intensified farming. Punjab’s cropping intensity is now 190%, significantly higher than the national average (141.6%).
- Resulted in stubble burning, water depletion, and compacted soil layers.
- Chemical Overuse:
- Overuse of fertilizers like urea (increase from 125 kg/ha to 560 kg/ha in 20 years).
- High chemical dependence has killed beneficial soil organisms like earthworms and mycorrhiza fungi.
- Water Table Decline and Soil Hardening:
- Intensive irrigation practices and puddling methods for rice farming reduced soil permeability, creating a dense sub-surface layer.
- Most blocks in Punjab, like Barnala, are in the “dark” zone for groundwater over-extraction.
Consequences of Soil Degradation
- Declining yields: Paddy yields dropped from 9.5 tonnes/ha in 2014-15 to 8.5 tonnes/ha, and wheat yields from 7 tonnes/ha to 6.5 tonnes/ha.
- Nutritional Impact: Fatigued soils produce crops with lower macro- and micronutrient content, affecting national food security.
- Financial Stress: Farmers spend more on fertilizers to sustain output, leading to a “vicious loop” of dependency.
Government Interventions
- Soil Health Card (SHC) Scheme (2015):
- Provides personalized nutrient recommendations based on soil testing.
- Implementation challenges: Limited adoption, insufficient staffing, and generalized results.
- Only 2,587 samples tested in Punjab out of 2.27 million in India (2024-25).
Possible Solutions
- Crop Diversification:
- Shift from rice-wheat cycles to nitrogen-fixing crops like legumes (e.g., chickpea, moong).
- Market and procurement diversification are critical to incentivize alternative crops.
- Fertilizer Reduction:
- Gradual reduction in chemical fertilizer usage, coupled with organic farming practices.
- Requires long-term investment and awareness among farmers.
- Soil Regeneration Practices:
- Promote no-till farming, organic composting, and cover cropping to restore microbial activity.
- Implement water-efficient irrigation practices to prevent soil hardening.
- Policy and Support:
- Increase procurement prices for alternative crops to match Minimum Support Price (MSP).
- Strengthen implementation of SHC by improving testing facilities and farmer outreach.
Punjab’s agricultural soil faces a severe crisis due to unsustainable practices rooted in Green Revolution policies. To ensure long-term agricultural sustainability, a balanced approach involving crop diversification, reduced chemical reliance, and robust policy support is essential.