The face of Punjab can change with the guarantee of MSP of lentils, arhar, urad, maize, and cotton by the central government. At the same time, the cultivation of pulses will get a boost in the country. This will reduce imports. However, this will promote agricultural diversity in Punjab. The suitable temperature for the cultivation of lentils is between 20 to 30 degrees.
For the cultivation of lentils, the pH value of the soil should be between 6.0 to 7.5. This is perfect for Punjab. It is done between October and December. It is important to provide adequate water to the seeds after sowing them, especially in the first 2-3 weeks after sowing.
Special varieties of lentils are also available for the farmers of Punjab. The cultivation of lentils in Punjab is very low, but farmer experts say that if it happens, 29 lakh tonnes of lentils, pigeon peas, and urad will have to be imported in 2023. This is an increase of about 40 percent in imports compared to last year.
The support price of lentils in Punjab in the year 2020-21 was Rs 5100 per quintal. At present the market price of lentils is around Rs 6100 to Rs 6125 per quintal, which is less than the minimum support price. A few months ago the price of lentils was Rs 7500-8000 per quintal.
Farmer leader Balwant Singh says that this year the lentil crop was planted in a 19 lakh hectare area. This is 4.40 percent more than last year. Australia is also a major producing country in the global market. Australia's lentil production in the year 2023-24 is 14 lakh tonnes.
Import of pulses increased by 39.70 percent last year
Pro. Hari Singh Brar says that the import of three pulses – masoor, arhar, and urad increased by 39.70 percent last year. During the calendar year 2022, the import of these three was about 20 lakh tonnes. From January to December 2023, the import of these three commodities has increased to 29 lakh tonnes. Farmers of Punjab can easily grow these pulses. The price of lentils goes up and down in the market, hence the farmer gets nervous. Farming in Punjab is done in very less areas but if the guarantee is given then it will be good for Punjab.
Decrease in the area of maize crop
Punjab farmers cultivated maize in 97,000 hectares in 2023. For the last decade or so, the area under maize was about one lakh hectares. The average maize production in Punjab is 5 lakh tonnes. Maize was grown on 5 lakh hectares in 1974, but over the years, the traditional crop area has declined drastically.
In the past few years, maize cultivation was used as silage, which is considered a superfood for cattle and poultry feed, but now the scope of the crop has expanded after distillery units showed interest in purchasing maize from farmers. A lot is being felt.
The condition of maize is bad in Punjab. The government has increased the MSP of maize from Rs 1962 to Rs 2090. Despite this, maize is not being purchased from farmers at that rate. This season, maize was sold in Punjab for up to Rs 1,000 a quintal, which was half the price of the MSP. Farmer leader Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan says that this is why the farmer is asking for a guarantee on MSP.
The graph of cotton cultivation is falling day by day
As against the target of three lakh hectares for cotton cultivation, the area under cotton cultivation is only 1.75 lakh hectares. The area under cotton cultivation in Punjab has fallen below two lakh hectares for the first time this season. In Punjab, cotton was cultivated on seven lakh hectares in the 90s, but in subsequent years it gradually decreased. In 2012-13, cotton was cultivated in 4.81 lakh hectares, which was further reduced to 2.91 lakh hectares in 2017-18. In the session 2018-19, cotton was cultivated in an area of 2.68 lakh hectares, in 2019-20, it was cultivated in an area of 2.48 lakh hectares, in 2020-21, it was cultivated in an area of 2.51 lakh hectares and 2021-22, it was cultivated in an area of 2.51 lakh hectares.
9.79 lakh quintals of cotton arrived in the markets of Punjab, out of which Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) bought only 1.76 lakh quintals, while private traders bought 7.98 lakh quintals. 2.46 lakh quintals of cotton have been purchased at lower rates. MSP is fixed at Rs 6900 but it is sold in the market up to Rs 5200 per quintal.
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