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Agriculture is the mainstay of Punjab`s economy and 97 per cent of the total cultivable area is under the plough. The main crops grown are wheat, rice and cotton. Priority is being given to sugarcane, oil seeds, horticulture and forestry.
Punjab was the first to translate agricultural technology into the Green Revolution, recording the highest growth rate in food production. From a minor rice producer it emerged a major rice surplus state.
Providing the impetus for the White Revolution during Operation Flood, it was Punjab that recorded the highest per capita availability of milk.
With only 2.99% of area sown and 3.90% of total cropped area of the country, the state on an average, accounts for 23% of Wheat, 14% of cotton and 10% of rice production of the whole country. Punjab is the largest single contributor to the central pool of rice and wheat.
Today Punjab has over 2.04 lakhs of small and medium industries and about 600 large scale industries. It leads in the manufacture of machine and hand tools; printing and paper cutting machinery; auto parts and electrical switch gear.
Punjab also produces more than 75% of the countrys bicycles, sewing machines, hosiery and sports goods. At par with the highest quality standards in the world, these products have carved a niche for themselves in markets across the globe. |
