Punjab may switch to non-paddy crops as water crisis sparks alarm

Punjab, the grain bowl of India, is in danger of losing the covered tag as depleting groundwater levels force the state to seriously consider reducing the planting of water-intensive paddy crop in the medium-to-long term to avoid a disaster. After a recent meeting with Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Planning Commission has decided to send a team of experts to the state to review the problem and suggests ways to tackle it. Punjab's shrinking rice production may spell trouble for food security as the state accounts for over 10% of the country's rice output, but contribute close to 25% to central grain reserves- thanks to a strong procurement network and high local taxes that discourage traders from purchasing from farmers.