A stream of water pours into a concrete cistern near the Sekhon family’s house and barn, then drains without supervision into a set of winter wheat paddies beneath a grove of aspen. The farm has two groundwater irrigation wells that each run 24 hours a day, whether the soil is dry or not. Both wells operate with electric pumps. And, as is the case with the millions of other rice and wheat farms throughout India, the state government provides the water and the electricity for free. (Image © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue)

India Punjab Nawanshar Mandeep Sekhon family farm farming farmer Green Revolution winter wheat rice paddies harvest crop cropland tractor poplar aspen electricity electric groundwater well pump flood irrigation water food energy choke point circle of blue wilson center j. carl ganter

A stream of water pours into a concrete cistern near the Sekhon family’s house and barn, then drains without supervision into a set of winter wheat paddies beneath a grove of aspen. The farm has two groundwater irrigation wells that each run 24 hours a day, whether the soil is dry or not. Both wells operate with electric pumps. And, as is the case with the millions of other rice and wheat farms throughout India, the state government provides the water and the electricity for free. (Image © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue)

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