Table 8: Estimates of Impact of Crop Diversification on Water Balance in Punjab

Change

Impact on Water Balance

000 Hec Metres

Per Cent Change in Existing Water Deficit*

Replacing 1 per cent area under paddy by maize or alike crops

2.6

–0.146

Replacing 1 per cent area under wheat by gram or alike crops

3.24

–0.182

Replacing 1 per cent area under paddy and corresponding area under wheat by sugarcane, or, increase in sugarcane area by 92 per cent

–113.83

6.39

Area share of paddy reduced to the level of TE 1972-73 by shifting paddy area to maize or alike crop

185.72

10.43

Area share of wheat reduced to the level of TE 1972-73 by shifting wheat area to gram or alike crop

20.1

1.13

Area share of wheat and paddy reduced to the level of TE 1972-73 by shifting area to gram and maize or alike crops

205.83

–11.56

Note: * '+' indicates increase and '-' indicates decrease in the exiting water deficit.