📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / VeerinderBiroke
Agriculture
Punjab Farmers Plan to Drop Paddy Cultivation, Call for MSP Guarantee Law
✍️ Amar Ujala · Mohali
🗓 04 Sep 2026, 02:35 AM
👁 26
Farmers in Punjab have announced a shift away from paddy cultivation and are urging the government to enact a law that guarantees a minimum support price.
Punjab's farming community has signaled a decisive move to reduce or abandon paddy cultivation, citing economic pressures that make the crop less viable. The decision was communicated through farmer representatives in Mohali, where they outlined their intent to switch to alternative crops that promise better returns.
Alongside the shift in cropping patterns, the farmers have formally demanded that the state and central governments introduce legislation that guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. They argue that a statutory MSP would provide the financial security needed to sustain agricultural livelihoods.
The call for an MSP guarantee law reflects broader concerns among Punjab's agrarian sector about price volatility and input costs. While the farmers have not specified a timeline for the transition, they emphasized that the policy assurance is essential before they fully move away from paddy.
Authorities have been asked to consider the proposal promptly, as the farming community seeks clarity on future support mechanisms. The issue is expected to feature in upcoming policy discussions at both state and national levels.
The move underscores a growing trend among Indian farmers to reassess traditional cropping choices in response to market and environmental challenges, with Punjab's case drawing particular attention due to its historic reliance on rice and wheat.
Alongside the shift in cropping patterns, the farmers have formally demanded that the state and central governments introduce legislation that guarantees a minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. They argue that a statutory MSP would provide the financial security needed to sustain agricultural livelihoods.
The call for an MSP guarantee law reflects broader concerns among Punjab's agrarian sector about price volatility and input costs. While the farmers have not specified a timeline for the transition, they emphasized that the policy assurance is essential before they fully move away from paddy.
Authorities have been asked to consider the proposal promptly, as the farming community seeks clarity on future support mechanisms. The issue is expected to feature in upcoming policy discussions at both state and national levels.
The move underscores a growing trend among Indian farmers to reassess traditional cropping choices in response to market and environmental challenges, with Punjab's case drawing particular attention due to its historic reliance on rice and wheat.