With monsoons playing truant in Haryana, paddy transplantation is being affected as the acreage so far has been reduced to 8 lakh hectare as against 8.5 lakh hectare during the corresponding period last year. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Chandigarh, rain shortfall in Haryana is about 57% this year with 51.5 mm rainfall this season.
However, last year, from June 1 to July 16, Haryana had received 225 mm of rainfall. ?The monsoon is scattered and the state has recorded 57% deficient rainfall this year so far. But the forecast predicts moderate rainfall and even thundershowers at few places in the next few days,? Chatar Singh, director, IMD Chandigarh told FE.
If the dry spell continues in the state paddy transplantation may take a hit. However, state agriculture department officials are confident that the targeted area of 11.5 lakh hectare will be covered under paddy this year. ?Though paddy transplantation has been impacted due to poor rainfall, it is expected to be complete by July-end. Moreover, we have forwarded a contingent crop plan to all the districts which will be implemented if the situation worsens,? BS Duggal, joint agriculture director, Haryana informed FE.
The main objective of the contingent plan is to minimise reduction in the agricultural production despite adverse climatic conditions by way of selecting appropriate varieties of crops or alternate crop and production technologies. In order to meet exigencies arising out of delayed monsoon, emphasis would be on making the farmers aware of contingent crop planning for stabilising productivity of crops.
The state has also bought 30 paddy transplanters this year and demonstrations are being given to the farmers in various districts about their use. ?The paddy transplanters are proving to be effective as the problem of labour shortage can be tackled and the productivity can be increased,? said Duggal.
Area under basmati crop to rise
Amid concerns over deficient rains affecting paddy sowing in the northwest region, area under the basmati crop in Punjab and Haryana may surge in the range of 20-55% during the kharif season with PUSA 1121 variety of basmati holding a major share in cultivation.
Punjab, which contributes 34% rice to the central pool is expecting the acreage under basmati variety of paddy to go up from 3.5 lakh hectare in the last sowing season to above 5.5 lakh hectare in the current kharif season.
?We feel area under basmati variety will jump to 5.5 lakh hectare as paddy growers are shifting to basmati variety of crops from common variety due to scanty rains,? Punjab agriculture joint director Gurdial Singh said.
Similarly, Haryana has also pegged its area under cultivation of basmati to jump to 6 lakh hectare, which will be 55% of the total area under paddy cultivation.
-PTI