Because of heavy rains and flooding in the previous few weeks, the paddy crop over no less than 10% space (6.25 lakh acres) is ready to be transplanted in Punjab and the state agriculture division has set a deadline of August 8 to finish the method. Owing to extraordinarily heavy rainfall three weeks in the past, that led to floods, freshly transplanted rabi crop suffered extreme injury within the districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar, a lot in order that it needed to be resown. Even now some areas in these districts are flooded. (AFP File)
Owing to extraordinarily heavy rainfall three weeks in the past, that led to floods, freshly transplanted rabi crop suffered extreme injury within the districts of Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar, a lot in order that it needed to be resown. Even now some areas in these districts are flooded.
As per agriculture departments figures, this season, paddy crop is sown over 31 lakh hectares (76 lakh acres) out of which premium fragrant basmati selection has been sown over greater than 6 lakh hectares (15 lakh acres). The coarse selection paddy lined below minimal help value will probably be sown over 61 lakh acres.
“The crop stays to be sown in over 6.25 lakh acres for which a deadline has been set for the primary week of August,” Gurvinder Singh, director agriculture, stated, including that early maturing selection PR126 which matures in 90 days has been advisable to be sown.
Officers anticipate spurt in farm fires
With the paddy crop maturing late, the officers are apprehensive that this will likely result in a spurt in farm fires as it would go away a brief window for cultivators to organize their filed and sow wheat, one other main crop grown within the area.
“Because of late maturing, we’re apprehending a spurt in burning of paddy stubble throughout harvest in November month,” Gurvinder added.
On Thursday, chief secretary Anurag Verma held a gathering with the officers of the departments of agriculture, science and know-how and finance and the state air pollution management board to debate a technique for curbing the follow of setting paddy stubble on fireplace.
The Centre’s ministry of agriculture, 10 days in the past, additionally held discussions with the state agriculture division on a technique to cease farm fires. “We’ve got been requested to attract out a technique to examine stubble burning,” Gurvinder added. He stated that the Punjab authorities has assured the Central ministry that regardless of the chances, the state authorities would make all efforts to curb farm fires.
Gurvinder stated lots will rely upon the climate in November.
“In case of early winters, the crop maturing and harvest will get delayed. However in case of dry and comparatively larger temperatures, the crop will mature early,” he stated.
The state authorities has sought ₹350 crore for ex-situ and in-situ administration of paddy crop residue.
There have been no less than 71,000 instances of stubble burning reported in 2021 which got here right down to 49,000 in 2022. The state authorities are apprehending instances to rise throughout the kharif harvest, significantly in November months when late sown paddy will probably be harvested.
Punjab Agricultural College vice-chancellor Dr SS Gosal, advocated floor seeding of wheat instantly after paddy harvest in order that the stubble burning may very well be curbed.
“Hope farmers will realise the environmental hazard and lack of soil vitamins and never burn paddy straw within the upcoming harvest,” he stated.
In the meantime, Balbir Singh Rajewal, who heads a faction of the Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), stated the situation this season could be very unpredictable.
“At this stage, it might probably’t be quantified how a lot space is late sown as nonetheless 7-8 lakh acres are ready to be transplanted. Late sown cop will imply late maturing and delayed harvest and shorter window for wheat sowing,” he stated, including that it could result in paddy stubble burning over bigger areas.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gurpreet Singh Nibber Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, energy sector, setting, Sikh non secular affairs and the Punjabi diaspora. …view element
