Punjab government is aiming to cut its rice production in the upcoming kharif season by 13% on year to 11.6 mln tn, as the state wants to diversify to less-water intensive crops such as maize, cotton and sugarcane. Punjab is focusing on diversifying crops from water-intensive to less water-consuming as the underground water-table level is reducing at an alarming rate in the state. The state government has adopted various measures to divert farmers from paddy to other crops, but due to better realization and assured marketing in rice, growers are unwilling