Rural Development in Punjab
A Success Story Going Astray

For many years, agricultural development in Punjab symbolised one of the most successful experiments in rural development. However, this success story seems to be going astray. The crux of the problem, this volume suggests, is that externally driven modernization to meet national food needs pushed Punjab into highly specialized production of wheat and rice, resulting in over-utilisation of natural resources with adverse environmental consequences that jeopardizing the long-term viability and sustainability of the agrarian economy. Stagnating productivity, reduced farm size, falling household incomes, depleting groundwater resources, are only a few of the problems that characterise Punjab?s agriculture today.

The book establishes clearly that rural development implies more than transformation of traditional agriculture. Apart from ensuring efficient use of limited resources to sustain agricultural production, rural policy should encompass promotion of non-farm activities, investments in social and economic structure and civic amenities.

1. Introduction Section 1: Rural Development: An Analytical Frame 2. Rural Development Autar Dhesi 3. Crisis in Punjab Agriculture G.S. KalkatSection 2: Agriculture: Development and Challenges 4. Development of Agriculture and Allied Sector in Punjab Ramesh Chand 5. Challenges to Punjab’s Agriculture in the Post-reform Era R.S. Siddhu, A.S. Joshi and A.S. Bhullar 6. Contract Farming for Agricultural and Rural Development. Sukhpal Singh 7. Agricultural Modernisation and Rural Transformation Gurmail Singh 8. Agricultural R&D in Punjab: Addressing the Emerging Challenges Prasoon Mathur, Harbir Singh, A.K. Jha and Suresh Pal 9. The Status of Agricultural Research in Punjab: Imperative for Rejuvenation Vikram Chadha 10. Agro-Forestry and Agricultural Diversification: A Case for Crop-Tree Integration H.S. Dhaliwal and A.S. BhullarSection 3: Water Resources: Issues and Responses 11. Depleting Ground Water: Causes and Remedial Measures G.S. Hira 12. Water Resources Potential and Land Use Sustainability Lakhvinder Singh 13. Watershed Development in Punjab: A Profile of Project Benefits Rachhpal Singh and Kashmir Singh 14.The Integrated Watershed Development Programme Upendra NathH RoySection 4: Agro-Industrial Development 15. The Agro-Industrialisation of Punjab: Needs, Performance, Potential Gurmail Singh 16. Integrated Development of Farm Forestry Potential and Wood Based Industries Piare Lal 17. Bio Fuels, Future Fuels P.K. Gupta, A.K. Jain, N.K. Khullar, K.L. Kalra and G.S. KocharSection 5: Human Resource Development 18. Human Resource Development and Inclusive Growth S.S. Johl 19. Public Expenditure on Education: An Evaluation Jaswinder Singh Brar 20. Health Services in Punjab: A Rural Perspective Sukhvinder Singh and Sucha Singh Gill 21. Population Growth: The Experience of Punjab and Kerala Swaran Singh 22. State and Rural Development: A Case Study Manjit Singh 23. The Effectiveness of Self-employment generation programmes in Rural Punjab: A Case Study BalbirSingh and Janak Raj GuptaSection 6: Diaspora and Rural Development 24. Overseas Punjabis and Rural Development Autar S. Dhesi 25. Evaluating the Potential Contribution of the Punjabi Diaspora to Rural Development Shinder S. Thandi 26. The Punjabi Diaspora’s Impact on Punjab’s Economy and Society Darshan S. Tatla 27. The Contribution of Non-Resident Indians to Rural Development: Constraints and Possibilities Raghbir S. Basi 28. Modern Approaches to Village Sanitation Gurdev S. Gill

Autar S. Dhesi is Professor of Economics, now retired. He taught at Guru Nanak Dev University for several years, as also at Coventry University where he is at present Honorary Visiting Research fellow, Coventry Business School.

Dr Dhesi was UGC Visiting Professor of Economics at Punjabi University, Patiala, and Consultant to the World Bank. He has served on several official panels including Punjab State Planning Board, Panel of Industrial Economists, and the Planning Commission of India. His publications include two books (Human Capital Formation and its Utilisation, and Socio-Economic, Agro-Economic and Environmental Impact Study), and several research papers. Apart from this, Dr Dhesi has been Founder Editor of Indian Journal of Quantitative Economics and Editorial Advisor, International Policy Review. He is Founder President of the Punjab Development Society.

Gurmail Singh teaches at Punjab University, Chandigarh. Prior to this, he was with Punjab Agricultural University, and Institute for Development Communication. He has been Consultant to the Government of India and the World Bank. He is presently Vice President, Indian Society for Agricultural Development and Policy, and General Secretary, Punjab Development Society.

Dr Singh has written research papers and has co-authored Impact of GATT on Punjab Agriculture; Alternatives in Agriculture; and Indian Agriculture: Four Decades of Development.