Groundwater Irrigation in Punjab

Abstract

Punjab located in the north western part of India is a small state comprising 1.54per cent of the total geographical area and little over2 per cent of the total population in the country. It is the largest contributor of wheat (around 55 per cent) and second largest of paddy (around 42 per cent) thoughts relative contribution in central pool of food grains both for wheat and paddy has been declining during the last few years. Sustainability of agriculture in Punjab is thus important for the state’s economy and also for food security in India Groundwater has played a key role in success of Green Revolution in India especially in original Green Revolution states comprising Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh (UP). The agriculture in state has reached a plateau making it very hard to make further progress under available technologies and the natural resource base; and the very sustainability of rice-wheat production system is under threat and climate change is posing new challenge on future agricultural growth.