5 Key Impacts of Paddy-Wheat Monoculture

 Seeking guidance from online services like Castrol case study help is a way to get rid of the burden of Monoculture assignments. But as an inquisitive student, one needs to read this article to be enriched with knowledge. Although paddy and wheat blanket agricultural land across Haryana and Punjab, they were not very widespread. In the early post-independence period, the Green revolution was there to address India’s persistent food shortages which was a package of interventions to increase yields of rice and wheat leading to Paddy-wheat monoculture. 

 

But over time a range of negative externalities has come up which are -

 

• 1. Groundwater depletion:

A main feature of the green revolution was using a huge amount of water. In semi-arid Northwest India groundwater reserves are the source of this water. This usage of groundwater has been exacerbated by free electricity to pump wells provided to farmers. As a consequence, groundwater depletion started. According to the report there will be a severe scarcity of groundwater for irrigation and also for drinking water in 15 to 20 years. A student can also seek help from any research paper writing service to add this point in assignment.

 

• 2. Stubble burning: 

Farmers usually clear the huge quantities of residue created during paddy harvesting before the sowing of wheat in November. Along with that due to underground water level depletion over time, farmers of Haryana and punjab wait for the monsoon to come to start planting Paddy. This situation creates a pressure to clear the fields by burning stubble.

 

• 3. Soil and water degradation: 

Each cycle of Paddy and Wheat cultivation reduces nutrients including the key elements of soil such as nitrates, carbon, potassium, phosphates. Removing these ingredients causes deterioration soil heath and land productivity also declines. So, the Paddy-wheat monoculture can be maintained only by applying huge amounts of pesticides, fertilizers that seep into the groundwater and run off into the canals. This accumulation of toxins in the drinking water supply is increasing the high cancer rates in various regions.

 

• 4. Economic stagnation: 

Growth of GDP is far more slow than other states of India in Northwest India, specifically in Punjab. As a result of growing Wheat and Paddy, Punjab has hit a point of diminishing returns, in terms of economic and agricultural productivity. On top of that, prices of fertilizers, pesticides, the rising cost of Cultivations, and other expenses are leading to higher debts and lower profit for the farmers. 

 

• 5. Climate change vulnerability: 

Emissions of Greenhouse gasses are not only raising global temperature but also creating significant consequences for agriculture. The monsoon in India always tends to be disrupted. So, the production of wheat and body in Punjab are likely to face ups and downs with temperature and rainfall changes. And the harvesting of Paddy and Wheat, monoculture cropping, are specifically vulnerable to climate change. 

 

Rotation of crops is a good way to avoid the risk associated with monoculture. A year of corn production followed by a year of pulses, then corn, then pulses to avoid many insect problems and diseases. This same method will work with many vegetables, annuals and even some perennials.

 

Summary:

The natural balance of soils gets upset due to agricultural monoculture. Harvesting the same plant in a particular field robs the soil of its key ingredients and decreases the variety of microorganisms, essential to maintain the fertility of the soil.

 

Author Bio:

Ava Cooper is a renowned research scholar in the field of agriculture and working with famous institutions of the USA. She is associated with Assignmenthelp.us for several years providing guidance related to Castrol case study for students on request. In her free time, Ava loves writing poetry and music.

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