35 teams deployed to curb early transplantation of paddy in Karnal
In a major step to conserve groundwater and promote sustainable farming, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has constituted 35 monitoring teams across the district to check the early transplantation of paddy. These teams, comprising supervisors, Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs), and Block Agriculture Officers (BAOs) have been tasked with visiting villages to educate farmers and enforce the ban on paddy transplantation before June 15.
The maximum numbers of teams have been stationed in Karnal, Indri, and Gharaunda blocks, where the water table is declining at an alarming rate. “Early transplantation of paddy consumes nearly three times more water compared to transplantation done after June 15,” explained Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA).
The teams have been instructed to destroy any early-sown paddy and impose a fine of Rs 10,000 per acre on violators. The officials are also actively educating farmers about the environmental and agricultural drawbacks of early transplantation.
To offer viable alternatives, the department is encouraging the cultivation of summer moong and the practice of green manuring through the sowing of ‘dhaincha’. “This year, the Agriculture Department has revised the target area for 'dhaincha' sowing to 4 lakh acres under the kharif 2025 season,” he said.
Farmers who sow 'dhaincha' will receive an assistance of Rs 1,000 per acre through direct benefit transfer (DBT) after verification. To claim the subsidy, they will be required to register their crop on the Meri Fasal, Mera Byora (MFMB) portal and upload a photo of the field. The registration process is expected to commence shortly.
About the district-wise targets under the green manure initiative, he said Karnal target was 34,000 acres, Jind (37,000), Kurukshetra (21,000), Kaithal (24,200), Hisar (30,000), Ambala (3,500), Bhiwani (14,500), Charkhi Dadri (8,700), Faridabad (3,200), Fatehabad (38,000), Gurugram (7,400), Jhajjar (11,000), Mahendragarh (1,700), Nuh (11,401), Palwal (24,999), Panchkula (400), Panipat (18,000), Rewari (16,000), Rohtak (17,000), Sirsa (45,000), Sonepat (22,000) and Yamunanagar (11,000).
Highlighting the benefits of 'dhaincha', he said it fixed atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, and its nutrient-rich leaves enhanced soil fertility when ploughed back into the fields.
