Farmers worried as wheat sowing delayed

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 18

The delay in the sowing of wheat has left the farmers worried across the district.

The farmers are blaming the government’s earlier decision not to allow paddy transplantation before June 20. They stated that due to delayed transplantation of paddy it had ripened late and as a result the next crop sowing too has been delayed.

“Earlier, the paddy transplantation was allowed from June 10. Later, it was allowed from June 15. This year it was allowed from June 20,” said Randhir Singh, a farmer of Chabal village. He said the government implemented the order without consulting farmers.

The farmers complained that while the date for paddy transplantation was delayed, the government did nothing to provide low-duration varieties. “If farmers start transplanting after June 20, it takes almost a month-and-a-half before the process is completed. It is required that varieties which take short time for maturation are developed and promoted,” said another farmer, Rawel Singh of Thatha village.

The farmers complained that with delay of every week in sowing of wheat, the crop yield falls down by almost two quintal per acre. They stated that in many areas the crop is still to be sown which would cause losses for the farmers.