Punjab farmers, long criticized for overexploiting natural resources, are now adopting sustainable rice cultivation practices to combat a steep decline in the water table, according to a report by Kahan Singh Pannu in The Hindu Business Line. The shift, though late, is seen as a critical step for food security and environmental sustainability.
The Groundwater Crisis
Punjab contributes about 31 per cent of its rice to the national food grain basket, feeding 80 crore Indians under the National Food Security Scheme. However, rice is not native to Punjab; it thrives in regions with over 1,500 mm annual rainfall, while Punjab receives only 550 mm. To bridge the gap, farmers have been drawing heavily from subsurface aquifers, leading to drastic depletion. The Central Ground Water Board has warned that if current trends continue, subsurface water in all three aquifers up to 1,000 feet could vanish by 2039.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water table depth in 2000 | 40 feet |
| Water table depth in 2026 | 400 feet |
| Annual rainfall in Punjab | 550 mm |
| Ideal rainfall for rice | >1,500 mm |
Sustainable Practices Gaining Ground
New agronomic techniques are reducing water use without sacrificing yield. Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) eliminates nursery sowing and transplantation in standing water, cutting water requirements by 30 per cent. The Seeding of Rice on Beds (SRB) method saves up to 60 per cent of water. The Punjab government recently announced that the area under DSR, including SRB, has grown by 36 per cent to 4 lakh acres this kharif compared to last year. This figure excludes areas under Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and short-duration varieties.
Implications for Food Security
The adoption of water-saving methods helps maintain Punjab's crucial role in India's food security while addressing environmental degradation. The shift also reduces methane emissions from puddled fields. As the author notes, "continuous and sustained farm production mechanism has gained precedence over an exploitative farming system." With the water table plunging from 40 feet to 400 feet since 2000, farmers are now prioritising long-term viability over short-term gains.
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