Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab and California State University join forces to tackle groundwater depletion
Global experts collaborate on water recharge strategies
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, March 30, 2025: In a landmark initiative to combat subsoil water depletion, experts from California State University, Fresno, and Punjab’s agriculture sector convened to devise sustainable water management solutions.
The high-profile discussion, led by Dr. Sharon Elizabeth Benes and Dr. Gurreet Singh Brar, along with six graduate and undergraduate students, was hosted by the Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission (PSFC).
With both Punjab and California facing severe water scarcity, the meeting served as a critical platform for knowledge exchange. PSFC Chairman Dr. Sukhpal Singh detailed Punjab’s Agriculture Policy, emphasizing the urgent need for groundwater recharge strategies. Sh. Rajesh Vashisht, former Director of Agriculture, presented data on declining water tables, proposing science-backed recharge solutions.
Dr. Brar highlighted the looming water crisis in agriculture, drawing parallels between Punjab and California. Dr. Benes reinforced the global nature of the crisis, sharing California’s strategies for sustainable water use.
Former Director of Horticulture, Dr. Gurkanwal Singh, called for a global scientific alliance to make agriculture more resilient and sustainable.
Experts Dr. Ranjodh Singh Bains and Manavpreet Singh further enriched the discussion by integrating actionable policy measures from Punjab’s draft agricultural framework.
The meeting underscored the urgency of international collaboration in tackling groundwater depletion, with Punjab and California forging a new path toward sustainable water management.