After Narmada dam, Gujarat did not become a storehouse of wheat like Punjab, production declined 

Gandhinagar, 11 Febuary 2021

Wheat cultivation in Gujarat has declined a lot in the last 10 years. What is of concern is that what was there in 2010 has seen a decline in productivity rather than an increase in wheat productivity in 10 years.

With the decline in farming in Gujarat, the decline in productivity has become a concern for a self-sufficient Gujarat. Wheat was planted in 16 lakh hectares and this year it has reached 13 lakh hectares in 2021. In 2010, productivity of 3100 kg of wheat per hectare was milieu. But after 5 years, it increased to 2700 kg. Now again there is a possibility of 3100 kg productivity miles.

Narmada Dam

The gates of the Narmada dam were closed in 2014 and filled with water. In the next 6 years, production declined rather than increased. If the Narmada dam had benefited in 10 years, Punjab should have got the benefit of Bhakra Nangal dam. In fact, during the Ravi season, farmers should have cultivated area of ​​40 to 45 lakh hectares under Narmada Dam. It did not happen. It literally means that farmers do not get Narmada water or they do not get sufficient price by cooking wheat. Therefore farmers do not grow it.

Huge drop in production

10 years ago, wheat production in Gujarat was 5 million tonnes. In the intervening years it came down to 2.3 million tonnes. The agriculture department has set a target of producing 40 lakh tonnes in 2021. Thus there is no longer wheat stock in Gujarat. It is considered the biggest failure of the Narmada project.

Wheat farming and production in Gujarat