Won’t procure paddy sown early: Agri chief

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 12

Agriculture Director Dr Jasbir Singh Bains announced on Tuesday that they would maintain a record of farmers who were going against the state government order banning the sowing of paddy before June 20. He said the produce of such farmers would not be procured. He was at a meeting with block agriculture officers and field staff members in Bathinda.

The director said at any time before the crop ripens, the crop sown early could be destroyed by agriculture officials of the areas concerned. He said the government had passed the directions in order to keep a check on the decreasing groundwater levels.

Meanwhile, at a seminar under the aegis of Crop Care Federation of India in Abohar, he said, “We don’t want to come at a juncture where there is no groundwater left. It’s a matter of livelihood so to save ourselves from the ensuing crisis, we will have to take steps to conserve water. Lakhs of tube wells are functioning in the state for which farmers are getting free electricity. Three-fourths of Punjab is dependent on subsoil water for agriculture and one-fourth on the canal water."

“As prices of diesel, fertilisers, insecticides and other inputs have witnessed a sharp increase, it will be better for farmers to take up animal husbandry, poultry farming and other allied businesses for financial survival,” he added.