Growth of agro and non-agro based village industries in Punjab

The present study was undertaken to examine the growth of production, sale and employment in agro based and non agro based village industries in the pre-liberalization and post-liberalization periodsin Punjab. Time series data regarding production, sale and employment were taken from secondary sources and was analysed with the help of compound annual growth rates and percentages. It was found that agro based as well as nonagro based village industries have not been able to sustain their high growth rate in the post-liberalization period. The compound annual growth rates of production, sale and employment have come down in the postliberalization period in the case of all village industries except in khani oil and non-edible oil and soap. The fall in growth rates has been the highest in terms of employment in the non-agro-based village industries. This shows that despite much expectations from liberalization, the growth of agro and non-agro based industries has not been sustainable. Decreasing rates of growth of production, sale and shrinking employment base indicate a need for revival of village industries in rural Punjab.