Ecological Implication of Agriculture Development in Punjab

This paper presents the ecological implication of Agricultural Development in Punjab. Punjab is leading state of India for green Revolution. Technological Agriculture Development in Punjab has led to better living standard and high per capita Income. Technological change of An Economy refers to change in the Input Output relations of Production Activities. But falling water table and consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides per hectare become a serious problem in the state. Study assessed the effect of Pesticide exposure on the heath, social, economic structure. Punjab is in the grip of a terrible environmental and health crises emanating from the intensive farming practices involving large doses of chemicals and pesticides in use for the past four decades. Presently in Punjab 1.67 percent of geographical area is consuming 16 percent of pesticides and more than 9.2 percent of chemical fertilizers of India. Farmers have poor knowledge base for the use of chemical fertilizers. One third of the farmers have got no formal /Informal training in storage, handling, transportation and the use of the pesticides. The paper is an attempt to analyze the ecological fall out of the agriculture model followed by the state. The model of intensive agriculture is presently being questioned about its sustainability from the point of view of its adverse impact on natural resources in particular and ecology in general.