Paddy transplantation is on schedule in Punjab, with over 75 per cent of the targeted area (2.7 millionhectares) already brought under paddy cultivation. Agricultural officials maintained transplantation would be completed by the end of this month.
Officials also added it is premature to say about the affect of the incessant rain that hit mainly three districts of the state on Wednesday, but insiders feel that about 10,000-15,000 acres would be effected by the rain as heavy rain created flood like situation in some parts of the state. Rains were confined mainly to Ropar, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Samrala districts. However, heavy rains in catchments in adjoining Himachal Pradesh, would help in irrigation and would also help improve power situation in the state.
The Punjab government has designated 2.7 million hectares under paddy cultivation this Khariff season, an increase of 100,000 hectares over the previous year’s target. It is expecting that the actual production of rice would touch 10.8 million metric tonnes this season.
However, agri experts in the state maintained that the actual area will cross 2.7 million hectares in this Khariff season. They cited that even last year, the government has targeted to bring 2.6 million hectares under paddy cultivation, but the total area surpassed the designated target and touched 2.8 million hectares despite delayed monsoon and scanty rainfall and the total production of the rice was 11.2.million metric tonnes.
However, the exact area will come into picture after the completion of transplantation season. Further, the area under Basmati cultivation is likely to increase by over 37,000 hectares this season as compared to corresponding period last year. On being asked about Basmati cultivation, sources said, “ This Khariff season the area under Basmati would be 500,000 to 600,000 hectares.”