Agri officials destroy paddy transplanted on one acre

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 12

Agriculture officials of the district destroyed the paddy transplanted over an acre of land in Thandhe village near Verka on Tuesday. The action comes as a warning to those who are planning to transplant paddy before June 20, the day the department has scheduled to be the beginning of the transplantation.

The government had earlier ordered delay of paddy transplantation in the state by five days. Last year, the government had barred paddy transplantation before June 15. Though most of the farmers are willing to go by the government dictate, they feel that farmers should have been taken into confidence.

“Due to the delay in transplantation last year, we got very less time to prepare fields for sowing of wheat. Further, as the weather was cloudy, it created trouble in sowing of wheat. The further delay of five days might result in more trouble for farmers,” said a farmer, Jagtar Singh, adding that problems of farmers too should be considered before taking such decisions.

Farmers also complain that due to shortage of labour during paddy transplantation, they have to face problem and if they start transplantation late they will not be able to reap it in time.

Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Dalbir Singh Chinna said, “Under The Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act 2009, paddy cannot be transplanted before June 20. The farmers who try to transplant paddy before that will have to face action.”

Dr Chinna said the fears of farmers were unscientific. “In fact, it is in the larger interest of the land and farmer. The late sown paddy will require use of less groundwater as rain will start,” he said, adding that water table was going down at a fast pace due to paddy.

The department has also engaged two vans to create awareness among farmers on the issues. Talking about its effects on the next wheat crop, Chinna said, “We have seen that wheat yield this year has improved as compared to the recent years. The decision to delay paddy transplantation was taken by the government after consultations with agriculture experts. Farmers should not doubt it,” he added.