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Fact Sheet

 DISTRICT KAPURTHALA PROFILE AT A GLANCE - 31 MARCH 2003

Special/ Additional features of the district

• Investments in infrastructure are integral to the process of economic development and go hand in hand with the direct investments in productive sectors. A good number of rural infrastructure projects have been executed in the district with assisstance from the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) set up in NABARD. The completed projects include construction of drainage and water canalisation works, advance bund, flood protection works, construction of roads and bridges etc. The projects which are under execution include rural water supply projects, construction of primary schools and road works. As a result of completed RIDF works there is likely to be increase in the on farm development works in the benefited areas, easier and quicker movement of inputs and produce on account of trouble free transportation and lowering of costs which would result in better productivity and increased of take of credit flow from the financing agencies.

• The wheat-paddy rotation primarily adopted in the district has become a source of multiple problems for the farmers viz. lowering of water tables, problems of storage and marketing of crops, depletion of soil nutrients etc. The Punjab Agro has taken initiatives for contract farming of maize, basmati & hyola saron in collaboration with private companies.

• Due to lowering of water table a good number of farmers have gone in for investments in submersible pumps and in generator sets due to erratic power supply.

• Since the prices available for wheat/ paddy are no more lucrative, the returns from agriculture have declined. However, there has been very little shift in cropping pattern, away from the wheat & paddy crop, inspite of various problems as discussed above.

• The district is covered under AEZ for potato and basmati, however, the progress in implementation is slow.

Important socio-economic developments in the district

• There is a strong desire among the youngsters to go abroad especially from Phagwara, Kapurthala and Nadala blocks which dissuades them from taking up higher studies as well as self employment enterprises.
• There is inadequate presence of NGOs/ VAs and woman organisations in the district on account of which socio-economic developmental activities have taken a back seat. However, philanthropic NRIs and religio-social organisations occasionally take initiatives in the social sector.
• A Science City, the National Institute of Renewable Energy Project, Punjab Technical University and a National Road Safety Organisation which are coming up in the district are likely to have a positive influence on the district’s economy.

• The district has been identified by NABARD for 'District Rural Industries Project’ (DRIP). DRIP is an integrated area based project for development of Rural Non Farm Sector through credit intensification process in collaboration with project partners. The project which has been launched during 2002-03 is likely to have a positive influence on the Non -farm sector activities in the district.
  
  *District Profile Source: NABARD

Fact Sheet: Punjab