Rain, power crises hit Punjab paddy

Lack of rains and power shortage have severely affected sowing of paddy in Punjab — popularly known as the “rice bowl of the country”.

So far, paddy has been sown in only 55 per cent of the total area due to scarcity of water, the state agriculture department sources said.

Paddy sowing in Punjab normally starts after June 10, the source added. Due to lack of monsoon rains plantation has been delayed. So far paddy has been sown in only 14.5 lakh hectares, the source said.

Power crisis due to intense heat wave conditions triggered protest from cultivators. “Delay in sowing of paddy will affect plantation next season,” added the source.

Despite shortage of migrant labourers, Punjab had completed plantation of paddy on time at a greater pace last year. But due to lack of rains as well as shortage of labourers, the situation has turned bad this season.