Paddy rice acreage saw an increase of around 12 per cent from last year with almost 25 lakh hectares dedicated to the crop. Basmati rice may soon touch 5 lakh hectares only.
Jalandhar: Farmers have taken to rice cultivation after their cotton crop failed last season and losing trust in Basmati’s returns. The area under rice this year has touched 30 lakh hectares — the highest in over a decade.
Paddy rice acreage, too, saw an increase of around 12 per cent from last year with almost 25 lakh hectares dedicated to the crop. Basmati rice may soon touch 5 lakh hectares only.
The news will certainly put pressure on the state’s groundwater resources with 102 of 141 agricultural blocks already “dry”. Rice is a water-intensive crop.
“This would be a big blow to our crop diversification policy,” said a senior officer in the agriculture department. Under the state’s New Agriculture Policy, around 12 lakh hectares was to be diverted from paddy rice to other crops mainly basmati, maize and cotton.
Basmati rice consumes less water than paddy rice. However, 33 per cent less land is under cultivation this time compared to last year.
“Farmers are looking for a secure market and paddy rice provides that,” said Dr J S Bains, director, Punjab Agriculture department. Last year, whitefly infestation wrecked the cotton market while Basmati’s prices fluctuated during last few years.