JOIN USThe Punjab government’s plan to cut down area under paddy as part of its ambitious diversification plan has not met with much success in the current Kharif season with area under water-guzzling crop surpassing the targeted area.
With Punjab laying thrust on crop diversification, the state had cut down the target for area under the paddy by one lakh hectares to 27.50 lakh hectares for the Kharif season.
Though officials maintained that efforts were made to encourage farmers to go for alternative crops instead of paddy, farm experts pointed out that free power to farmers was the main hindrance in increasing acreage of other crops.
With now sowing being almost over, area under paddy has exceeded the target area to reach 27.73 lakh hectares.
“Area under paddy has reached 27.73 lakh hectares against the target of 27.50 lakh hectares,” agriculture department officer said.
Official sources said the area might exceed 27.80 lakh hectares under paddy for the current Kharif season.
Punjab’s plan to expand area under cotton did not see much success as its actual area settled at 5.05 lakh hectares as against target of 5.20 lakh hectares.
“Early rain during cotton sowing affected the acreage and farmers went for paddy crop,” an official said.
However, area under maize went up to 1.52 lakh hectares against 1.29 lakh hectares last year.
Farm experts further said unless state government curbs free power to farmers for irrigation, the state’s ambitious crop diversification plan may not be successful.