There is a need to identify crop-specific areas where processing and marketing facilities could be provided to farmers to improve the latter's financial condition, said Dr Gurbachan Singh, Chairman, Agriculture Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB). He was in town today to address the "Young Farmers Conclave" organised by the Rashtriya Kisan Sangathan. Dr Gurbachan Singh said the farmers would go in for diversification only if they were assured of processing and marketing facilities. Expressing concern over the depleting ground water level in Punjab, he said rain harvesting was a must as the ground water level in the state has gone down to about 60 ft. "As of now, we are using only 29 per cent rainwater for irrigation purposes.This should be raised to at least 40 per cent to 45 per cent to help increase production.” Dr Gurbachan Singh warned the farmers against taking agriculture loans for improving their living standards. He said these should be taken only to increase their income. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mangal Singh, Director, Department of Agriculture, Punjab, said the area under wheat and paddy needed to be brought down as the crops required a lot of water. He said the area under these crops had gone down considerably to 1.29 lakh hectares. The farmers were now gradually shifting to maize and cotton in view of the marketing facilities for these crops. He said the state government had set up a drying facility for maize at Saila Khurd in Hoshiarpur district. Earlier, the farmers were getting lesser remuneration for their produce because of the high moisture content.