World Journal of Social Science Research ISSN 2375-9747 (Print) ISSN 2332-5534 (Online) Vol. 5, No. 4, 2018 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/wjssr 320 Original Paper Economics of Pulse Cultivation in Punjab Satvinder Kaur 1* & Shakuntla Gupta 2 1 Department of Economics, Khalsa College, Patiala, Punjab, India 2 Department of Economics, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India * Satvinder Kaur, Department of Economics, Khalsa College, Patiala, Punjab, India Received: October 21, 2018 Accepted: November 7, 2018 Online Published: November 21, 2018 doi:10.22158/wjssr.v5n4p320 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/wjssr.v5n4p320 Abstract This study is an empirical analysis of economics of pulse cultivation in Bathinda and Fazilka districts of Punjab state situated in North West part of India. On the basis of gross return which is the best indicator of profitability, the results of the study shows that although pulse cultivation has been observed to be somewhat profitable in both Bathinda and Fazilka district but it lacks assured returns due to lack of government procurement as well as low and unstable productivity unlike cereal crops which are enjoying assured returns. Thus, in order to make pulse cultivation remunerative in sampled districts, it is recommended that the government should provide high yielding varieties of seeds at the subsidized rates to increase the level of productivity. Our research study also brings out the need for assured procurement of pulse crops like wheat and paddy in the state which is lacking presently. Keywords economics, procurement, assured returns, profitability, productivity 1. Introduction Punjab, located in the north west part of India is one of the foremost states in the field of cereal crops, especially, wheat and paddy. There is a growing realisation about the degradation of land, environment and water due to the current pattern of agricultural production and its sustainability is under question. Though some concern has been raised by researchers about disquiet aspect of Punjab agriculture but lacks serious attention by the state. However, the rising dissatisfaction among the farming society due to their failure to get assured farm income, and problems like declining water-table, water logging, environment pollution, soil degradation and question of soil preservation have reached such proportion as to compel the state administration to make serious efforts to address these problems. Pulses which have a key role to play in agriculture and society for various factors like their nutritive value, predominantly vegetarian diet, potential to improve soil fertility, low resource and water requirement,