Labour issues: Punjab to promote maize cultivation in coming Kharif season

Shortage of labour with expertise to plant paddy has prompted the state to encourage farmers to grow less labour-intensive crops

As the possibility of an extended lockdown impacting the smooth movement of labour looms, the Punjab government has decided to encourage the state’s farmers to shift en masse to maize and cotton, instead of paddy.

Planting paddy is expected to start from June, depending on the progress of the southwest monsoon. Field preparation begins before that.

With migratory labourers having expertise in planting rice returning to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar after the lockdown announcement last month, Punjab is urging its farmers to grow cotton or maize as the next crop for the kharif season.

The state government has asked the Centre to further