Punjab was the first Indian state to use agricultural technology to engineer
a "green revolution", recording the highest growth rate in food
production. Today, with its rich agricultural resources and favourable climate,
the state continues to be one of the largest producers of food grains and cash
crops in the country.
Punjab contributes 68 per cent to the annual food production of India. The
state's index of agricultural production rose from 269.55 in 1990-91 to 314.73
in 2002-03, showing an increase of 16.8 per cent. The state has 3 per cent of
India's net sown area and 1.5 per cent of its farming population. Punjab's large
agriculture base gives it a competitive advantage in industries such as food
processing and textiles.
The state also has a marked presence in the agro-based and light engineering
goods businesses. It has over 19.7 million small and medium enterprices, about
653 large enterprises and provides more than 75 per cent of the country's
requirement for bicycles, sewing machines, hosiery and sports goods. At par with
the best in the world, these high quality products have carved a niche for
themselves in markets across the globe.
The state is committed to creating a climate conducive to investment. It has
been proactive in attracting investment from the private sector, particularly in
areas like agro-processing, infrastructure, Information Technology (IT),
textiles and biotechnology.
