New Delhi: Punjab has imposed restrictions on early sowing of rice for the oncoming kharif season and the Amritsar district administration has even imposed a prohibitory order.
Two farmers of Amritsar district have moved the Punjab High Court over the issue, and a division bench has allowed the petition and issued notice to the Badal Government before posting the case for hearing on April 23.
While the Amritsar district has passed an order, officials in other parts of the State have verbally asked farmers to follow the regulations strictly. The State Government wants the farmers not to sow paddy before May 10 and begin transplantation only after June 10.
Depleting water table
The move is in view of the depleting water table in the State. According to a study, the groundwater table during the past five years has depleted by 48 centimetres annually. Rice is one of the most water-intensive crops in the country.
Government official say such a situation prevails in Haryana too. Punjab and Haryana are main contributors of kharif paddy production.
“State officials have told us verbally that we cannot plant rice before May 10 due to lower water level in the reservoirs too,” said Jagjit Singh of Mansa village in Punjab.
The current water storage position in the 81 major reservoirs in the country is about 30 per cent of the full reservoir level of 151.77 billion cubic metres.
This is over 10 per cent lower than the situation during the corresponding period a year-ago.
Also, rainfall since March in these growing areas has been scanty. The Agriculture Ministry data say rainfall in these areas has been four mm against the normal 52.2 mm.
Improve environment
Dr B. Mishra, Project Director of the Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research in Haryana, the move to curb early sowing was welcome, since it will help improve the environment.
“Farmers sow paddy soon to ensure early harvest. Since paddy will be growing during the peak of summer, the crop will need more water. This affects the water table and the ecological balance. The farmers can go in for pulses such as moong after wheat and then plant paddy. This will help them get better returns and also protect the environment,” he said.
Punjab and Haryana have contributed 93.48 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice this year to the buffer stocks. This is out of the 219.52-lt procured till April 4. Last year, these States contributed 96.01 lt of the 250.75-lt procured by the Centre.
Currently, wheat harvest is in full swing in both these States.
Two farmers of Amritsar district have moved the Punjab High Court over the issue, and a division bench has allowed the petition and issued notice to the Badal Government before posting the case for hearing on April 23.
While the Amritsar district has passed an order, officials in other parts of the State have verbally asked farmers to follow the regulations strictly. The State Government wants the farmers not to sow paddy before May 10 and begin transplantation only after June 10.
Depleting water table
The move is in view of the depleting water table in the State. According to a study, the groundwater table during the past five years has depleted by 48 centimetres annually. Rice is one of the most water-intensive crops in the country.
Government official say such a situation prevails in Haryana too. Punjab and Haryana are main contributors of kharif paddy production.
“State officials have told us verbally that we cannot plant rice before May 10 due to lower water level in the reservoirs too,” said Jagjit Singh of Mansa village in Punjab.
The current water storage position in the 81 major reservoirs in the country is about 30 per cent of the full reservoir level of 151.77 billion cubic metres.
This is over 10 per cent lower than the situation during the corresponding period a year-ago.
Also, rainfall since March in these growing areas has been scanty. The Agriculture Ministry data say rainfall in these areas has been four mm against the normal 52.2 mm.
Improve environment
Dr B. Mishra, Project Director of the Karnal-based Directorate of Wheat Research in Haryana, the move to curb early sowing was welcome, since it will help improve the environment.
“Farmers sow paddy soon to ensure early harvest. Since paddy will be growing during the peak of summer, the crop will need more water. This affects the water table and the ecological balance. The farmers can go in for pulses such as moong after wheat and then plant paddy. This will help them get better returns and also protect the environment,” he said.
Punjab and Haryana have contributed 93.48 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice this year to the buffer stocks. This is out of the 219.52-lt procured till April 4. Last year, these States contributed 96.01 lt of the 250.75-lt procured by the Centre.
Currently, wheat harvest is in full swing in both these States.
No comments:
Post a Comment