The state of Punjab in India is set to replace vast areas of paddy with alternative crops, including 300,000 hectares of agroforestry.

A range of media outlets, including MSN News, report on a meeting of agriculture experts and progressive farmers which has resulted in a strategy that will see paddy phased out in order to achieve long term sustainability and improve farm incomes.

Other crops to be grown include maize, cotton, sugarcane and fodder.

Paddy farming has largely contributed to the depletion of water tables and it is hoped the new crops will help address this issue as well as restore soil fertility.

The government is considering support for farmers who choose to diversify and grow alternative crops.

Read the full story: Punjab readies strategy to reduce area under paddy cultivation