Sowing of paddy, a major Kharif crop, is trailing in Punjab and Haryana in the current season amidst possibility of deficient rains.
Crop sowing is almost 17 per cent down in Punjab during ongoing season as compared to acreage in corresponding period of last year.
"So far, 19.11 lakh hectares have been brought under paddy in comparison to 22.99 lakh hectares of area in corresponding period of last year," a Punjab Agriculture department official said here today.
The official cited "lesser" rains against normal level during June and delayed sowing of crop as a major reason behind trailing in paddy sowing in the state.
Punjab is targeting to bring 26.50 lakh hectares of total area under paddy which is considered as "water guzzling" crop during current Kharif season.
With prediction of deficit rains, Punjab has witnessed about 25 per cent deficiency in rains during June and first week of July.
Average rainfall during this period was 55 mm as against normal rains of 73 mm, the official said.
Districts which had lesser rainfall against normal were Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Barnala while a few areas like Ropar, Mohali, Gurdaspur saw rainfall activity beyond 75 mm.
Notably, farmers in Punjab do not depend on rain for crop sowing as state has well irrigation system (canals, drawl of underground water) for watering crop.
The official further said that the delay in start of paddy sowing in the state is also one of the reasons in lower area sown so far in the state.
Paddy sowing in current Kharif season commenced on June 15 as against June 10 last year.
The neighbouring Haryana, which is also major foodgrain growing state, has also seen marginal drop in current sowing in paddy crop.
A total of 6.45 lakh hectares has so far been brought under paddy as against 6.65 lakh hectares of area in corresponding period of last Kharif season.
However, official of Haryana Agriculture department described the drop in sowing as marginal.
Like Punjab, rainfall in Haryana during June was deficient by 15.3 per cent. The state saw actual rainfall of 43.2 mm as against normal rains of 51 mm, as per weather report.
The districts in Haryana which witnessed lower rainfall were Yamunanagar, Palwal, Ambala, Panchkula, Sirsa and Rohtak.
Haryana is eyeing total area of 12 lakh hectares under paddy during current season.
