An electricity energy usage and energy subsidy in Punjab agriculture

An electricity as an input is attaining new heights as we are treading on the higher growth path of agricultural production. Like any other technological innovation, the electricity consumption in Punjab was below both in technical and economic potentials in the fifties and sixties. With the advent of high yield varieties of seeds and consequently, the use of fertilizer, necessitated the assured irrigation for crop production. So there has been an upward trend in the consumption of electricity for irrigation purpose since 1970?71. Moreover, the partially charged as well as free electricity has also acted as stimulant for installation of more and more electricity operated tubewells which have resulted in increased electricity energy consumption. Above all, the changing cropping pattern and more and more use of fertilizer made it requisite to consume more water.