Farmers are shifting from paddy rice to crops that require less water as many parts of Punjab are experiencing a rapid decline in groundwater.
About one meter of the water table is being depleted annually due to continuous paddy growing in the state.
Many farmers have started planting cotton, maize, and basmati since they cannot afford to invest in deeper tube well and more powerful water pumps.
Experts at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute say proper water management techniques that optimize irrigation can lessen the water needed for paddy cultivation.
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