New Delhi: Rice farmers in Punjab and Haryana are facing a growing crisis as rising cultivation costs threaten their livelihoods, even as India continues to expand rice production.

According to Kashmir Media Service, seasonal rice growers say the escalating costs of deeper borewells, powerful pumps, and equipment are pushing small and marginal farmers toward financial distress.

Sukhwinder Singh, a 76-year-old Punjab farmer, said he spent 30,000 to 40,000 rupees last summer just to sustain his 35-acre plot, while smaller farmers struggle to break even. Balkar Singh of Haryana echoed concerns over rising extraction costs, emphasizing that every season is becoming less sustainable.

Experts highlight that rice is a highly water-intensive crop, consuming 3,000–4,000 litres of water per kilogram—far above global averages. Punjab and Haryana extract between 35% and 57% more groundwater annually than their aquifers naturally replenish, leaving vast areas classified as “over-exploited” or “critical.”

Policy analysts warn that without long-term measures, rice cultivation in India’s northern heartlands will increasingly burden small farmers and strain local economies.

Published Date: December 31, 2025