Green Revolution Agriculture has created havoc in Punjab. The three aspects of better practices are: (1) “Kadoo-mukt”: To make rice agriculture free of the water flooding technique that uses excessive water and repalce it with DSR – the direct seeding of rice that uses less water and is not as prone to fungus diseases, (2) “Agg-Mukt”: To get farmers to stop setting fire to the stubble or straw that remains after harvest, and instead use the straw as mulch for the crop that follows and plant the next crop directly without tillage – thus saving much water and fertilizer, (3) “Zehar-mukt”: To make agriculture free of poisonous chemicals. This approach reduces the use of these chemicals and so transitions slowly away from “green revolution” practices. The great thing about this approach is that it saves the farmer money, while using less water (which is good for Punjab in its current situation) and makes the drop more resilient to storms, flooding and heat (as was demonstrated during storms that hit PUnjab in March 2023).

The technique also favors traditional varieties of seeds and crops and generally does not use hybrid and new varieties and definitely not the new GMO (genetically modified) seeds. The plants are generally planted intensively and sometimes uses the practice of companion planting, where plants that like each other are grown together.

The plants are generally healthier and so more resistant to insect attacks, but one can use sprays of biological herbicides and pesticides, if needed. Organic farming is more labor intensive, but should command a premium in terms of price as the produce is cleaner and more nutritious. The produce is generally more nutritious and is definitely free of any herbicide and pesticide residues that are and for the health.”