Indian economy in a robust demonstration of its nascent strengths, has witnessed sharp ups and downs in its agriculture
sector. Growth of agriculture sector during the Tenth Plan period at 2.3 per cent is far below the of 4 per cent a year. Furthermore, a country with a large population has to be nearly self sufficient in essential food items, otherwise, supply constraints could up set macroeconomic stability and growth prospects. Punjab is no exception to this; rather the state has been hit hard due to uneconomic farm holdings. Considering the seriousness of the problem, Punjab School of Economics of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar organized a two days National Seminar on ‘Rural
Employment in Punjab: Challenges and Strategies’ The main thrust of the papers was on extent of rural employment and strategies for generation of rural employment. Economists emphasized the creation of more non-farm employment avenues in the rural areas, by exploiting the backward and forward linkages. The panelists further suggested the setting up of agro-
processing units.The different biotechnological developments, aimed at reducing the breeding period, virus and insect-pest free plants, environmentally tolerant varieties under green/polly house and controlled conditions, production of bio-fertilizer and bio-diesel, is to be initiated in the State in the right earnest by allocating more funds for R&D in targeted fields. More Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) be created at the village and block level by involving the retired army and civil officers and other educated personnel of the areas to motivate and guide the programme for the women. SHGs will emerge as nurseries for entrepreneurship in the rural areas. For the development of agri-business activities in the rural areas, there is need for provision of infrastructure, including good roads, warehouses, cold stores, refrigerated transportation and above all uninterrupted supply of electricity by setting up nuclear power plants. Government should make it compulsory that all processing units be set up only in the rural areas.The entrepreneurships and vocational training programme has to be started for the rural youth. The seed capital required should is provided to them by the Government and loan facilities be made available without collateral. Nationalized banks be involved in the procurement of produce with the provision that the farmers could take short term credit to be repaid at the time of selling of the produce. The commission agents be withdrawn from procurement programme in phases and be encouraged to set up agro-processing units and the procurement activity be handled by the bank staff.