ABSTRACT
The structure of centre-state relations in India, with regard to agriculture, has crucially shaped the pattern of agricultural development in Punjab. My analysis shows that the centre has had overwhelming powers in deciding the agricultural policies that a state government pursues. This power to shape the pattern of agricultural development in the states goes beyond even the constitutional powers granted to the centre for intervening in the agriculture sector. The political discourse of ‘national interest’ is commonly used to expand the power of the centre vis-à-vis the states. In this chapter, I first examine the constitutional provisions regarding centre-state relations in agriculture, in order to provide the overall legal and political framework for the respective roles and powers of the centre and the states in agriculture. I then discuss the implications of the centrally directed policies for Punjab agriculture. This discussion highlights the role of the centre in reinforcing an agrarian oriented development pattern in Punjab. In particular, I examine the impact of the centre’s politico-economic decision of achieving ‘national’ self-sufficiency in food availability, on Punjab agriculture. I have highlighted the two-crop (wheat and rice) dependent nature of Punjab agriculture, which emerged as a result of centre’s introduction of the Green Revolution strategy in Punjab, the aim of which was to make India self-reliant in meeting the food needs of its population.
