Weak monsoon adds in problem to paddy farmers in Punjab.

Farmers in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts, along with Kapurthala, seem to be worried as a weak monsoon has resulted in insufficient showers so far. Some farmers managed to sow paddy with pre-monsoon showers but with less rain, they are using groundwater from tubewells to irrigate the paddy fields. Farmers generally sow basmati before July 20 but this year, the time is running out. All 10 blocks of the district are under the ‘overexploited’ zone where the level of groundwater is witnessing a dip every year. The Central Ground Water Board conducts a survey every year and instead of improvement in the district these years, the level of groundwater in Bhogpur, Goraya, Jalandhar East, Jalandhar West, Lohian, Nakodar, Nurmahal, Phillaur and Shahkot has further decreased.