MSP, Mandis and the Farm Laws
Water, Soil and the Cost of Wheat-Rice Support
Guaranteed procurement of water-hungry rice in Punjab and Haryana has contributed to groundwater depletion, prompting calls to diversify.
Support shapes what farmers grow.
Incentive
Assured buying makes rice and wheat safe and profitable.
Water
Rice needs a lot of water, and groundwater levels have fallen sharply in parts of Punjab.
Stubble
Residue burning after rice harvest contributes to winter air pollution.
Diversification
Schemes encourage shifting to maize, pulses and other crops but need market assurance.
A falling water table
Farmers drill deeper wells each year to irrigate paddy.
Assuming price support has no side effects
It shapes land and water use.
Key takeaways
- Support favours rice and wheat.
- Groundwater is falling.
- Stubble burning pollutes.
- Diversification needs incentives.
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