Panjab Farmers Gain from Horticulture, SKM Plans Protests Against NPFAM

Panjab’s horticulture coverage rose 42% in a decade, from 688K acres in 2011–12 to 1.2M acres in 2023–24, with the sector’s value quadrupling to USD 3.1B and constituting 17.03% of the state’s agricultural GDP at USD 18.1B. Many small and marginal farmers now opt for fruits and vegetables, drawn by assured high returns and reduced water usage compared to paddy and wheat. Several innovators—like engineer-turned-farmer Raman Salaria, who grows strawberries and dragon fruit for USD 6.9K per acre profit—showcase the lucrative potential of high-value crops. Key crops include kinnow, mango, lychee, guava, and various vegetables, which require significantly less water and offer higher profitability. Meanwhile, on 24 Jan, at its national level meeting in New Delhi, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) unanimously rejected the Union government’s National Policy Framework for Agricultural Marketing, labeling it a disguised reincarnation of the ‘three black farm laws’ aimed at favoring multinational corporations and undermining government-run grain markets (WD Vol 3, Issue 4, Story 3). SKM has pledged to initiate pakka morchas (permanent sit-in protests) across state capitals from 5 Mar and mobilize farmers to pressure chief ministers into passing assembly resolutions opposing the framework. Additionally, SKM plans Mahapanchayats (big gatherings) and conventions, and intends to gather at MPs’ residences on 8–9 Feb to seek parliamentary support against the proposed marketing overhaul. At the same time, a new study from Punjab Agricultural University indicates that substituting conventional urea with nano-urea reduces rice and wheat yields and lowers grain protein by up to 35%. While Panjab’s horticultural advancements promise a more sustainable and profitable agricultural future, ongoing debates over fertilizer innovations like nano-urea and contentious marketing policies highlight the delicate balance between enhancing productivity, ensuring food security, and safeguarding farmer welfare in a rapidly evolving agricultural landscape.