Agriculture dept struggles to meet kharif maize sowing target

As the kharif season unfolds, The Tribune previously reported on the Agriculture Department’s efforts to promote kharif maize cultivation among local farmers.

Despite setting an ambitious target of covering 1,500 hectares with kharif maize, progress remains slow, with only 450 hectares sown so far.

The slow pace has been attributed to the onset of paddy sowing, which has long been the dominant crop in the region. While officials are concerned about the delayed progress, they remain hopeful that the target can still be achieved in the coming weeks.

To encourage farmers to switch to maize, the government has introduced an incentive of Rs 17,500 per hectare for those who opt for kharif maize cultivation. This financial support is aimed at reducing the region’s heavy reliance on paddy, which consumes significantly more water—a growing concern given the depletion of groundwater resources.

“We are actively reaching out to farmers through awareness campaigns and field visits. The response has been positive in some areas and we expect maize sowing to pick up soon,” said an agriculture department official.