Ludhiana, March 18 -- The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) will organise Kisan Mela at its Ludhiana campus on March 20 and 21, with over two lakh farmers expected to attend the event. The mela will focus on crop diversification, alternatives to the wheat-paddy cycle and the use of technology in farming, with emphasis on reducing groundwater use and improving farm returns.

The discussions assume significance amid continued groundwater depletion in Punjab, where nearly 80% of blocks are categorised as overexploited and water tables are declining by up to one metre annually. Experts have linked the trend to paddy cultivation, which relies on intensive groundwater extraction and contributes to an annual deficit.

At the mela, PAU will pr...