After last year’s paddy high, Punjab’s target area down by 1 lakh hectares

As Punjab awaits the arrival of monsoon for the ongoing paddy transplantation, the state aims to bring down the area under the 'water-guzzling crop' this kharif season. Despite poor rainfall last year, area under paddy in the state shot up to its highest ever of 28.02 lakh hectares bringing the efforts of the State Agriculture department at diversification to a standstill.







"As part of our diversification policy to arrest the falling groundwater table level, we try to bring down the area under paddy every year.







However, last year it went up from 27 lakh hectares to 28.02 lakh hectares. Our target for this kharif is to bring the cultivation area down by 1 lakh hectares to the earlier level of 27 lakh hectares. To achieve this, we have set higher targets for cotton, maize and pulses. Though the final picture will emerge only by the second week of July, area under paddy is not likely to be as high this year," Punjab Agriculture Director B S Sidhu said.







Ads by Google



Possession in 18 months

at Star Court Apts, Gr.Noida with Recreational facilities. Know more!

JaypeeGreensStarcour

Agribiotech & Seed Market

Increase Farm Yeild thru Technology 12-13 Oct 2010 Jakarta, Indonesia

www.cmtevents.com

Btech Admissions 2010

NIIT University Announces Btech in Comp Science & Engineering. Apply!

NIITUniversity.in/Do



Neighbouring Haryana, where area under paddy touched 12.05 lakh hectares last year, has kept this year's target at 11.5 lakh hectares. "As of now, paddy transplantation is lagging behind last year's corresponding figure, but it will pick up if rains are good in July. Irrespective of our target, paddy area in the state has not come down. It was 11.5 lakh hectares last year but crossed 12 lakh hectares despite less rains," said Haryana's additional director, agriculture, B S Duggal.


News From: http://www.7StarNews.com