Farming

Punjab is called the “Granary of India” or “India’s bread-basket”. There are 1.09 million farming households in Punjab of which 33.1 per cent of land holdings in the state are small and marginal. The largest area is under wheat crop. Other important crops of the state are rice, cotton, sugarcane, pearl millet, maize, barley and fruit. Punjab state has just 1.53 per cent of the total geographical area of India, but  produce about 17 per cent of wheat, 11 per cent of rice and 6 per cent of cotton in the country. As a result, the state has been contributing up to 78 per cent of wheat and 60 per cent rice to the central pool of food reserve. 

Agriculture sector in Punjab  is a dominant sector that adds value to its GDP due to presence of abundant water resources and fertile soil. Total geographical area of the State of around 50,362 sq. km of which Net cropped area is 41,58,000 ha (1,03,95,000 Acres) and Gross cropped area of around 78,82,000 ha (1,97,05,000 Acres).

Agriculture is the main occupation in the State where 10.93 lakh farmers are dependent on farming.