Explanation:

Punjab is an agriculturally progressive state and use of modern farm machinery like tractors, electric motors, combines, cultivators and seed drills, etc are highly prevalent. The rapid adoption of green revolution technology in Punjab also led to a sharp increase in farm mechanization. As per information provided by Punjab State Farmers Commission, the state has double the number of tractors it requires. The average use of tractors per annum in the state is barely 450 hours, which is much below the minimum 1,000 hours of productive use in agriculture. As per 2004 estimates of Department of Agriculture, Government of India, 14% of total population of tractors in India plough the fields in Punjab. Excessive use of tractors also causes damage to physico-chemical characteristics of soils, particularly where puddling is done for rice cultivation.The agriculture sector consumes around 30% of total High Speed Diesel (HSD) consumed in the state and it has increased from 626 Thousand Metric Ton(TMT) of HSD in the year 2002 to 685 TMT HSD in the year ending 2005 (Table 2.11). Gaseous emissions from agriculture machines also cause air
pollution by addition of unburnt hydrocarbons in theair in rural areas.