Paddy growers relieved, demand for power down

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh/ bathinda, July 16

Heavy downpour across the state today may have created havoc for the common man, but it has brought cheer to the farming community, mainly paddy growers.

According to estimates by the Agriculture Department, non-basmati and basmati paddy is sown on 28.5 lakh hectares in the state this year. With widespread rain today, stagnant water required in the fields at this stage of cultivation was received naturally, rather than drawing this water from the ground.

“We are expecting a bumper crop this year. The rains, though late, are essential for paddy that has been transplanted in the field,” said Sutantar Kumar Airi, Director, Agriculture.

The deficient rainfall till now had been a cause of constant concern, as it was putting a lot of pressure on Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to supply additional power to pump groundwater for irrigation. PSPCL officials said the demand for power had dropped sharply over the past two days.

Meanwhile, a heavy spell of shower that lashed Bathinda and surrounding areas over the last 24 hours has brought cheer to paddy farmers, although cotton farmers are a bit cautious. However, experts say paddy in low-lying areas may be under threat.

Talking to The Tribune, PAU’s senior farm economist Dr GS Romana said, “Cotton doesn’t need much water and therefore I feel the positive impact of rainfall on the crop will be less, while negative effect will be more. Cotton crop in the low-lying areas will be particularly hit as stagnant water may lead to fall of cotton plants as well as parawilt. It augurs well for the paddy farmers, but not for those who don’t have an arrangement to drain out water from their fields. The rainfall is good for the paddy crop which is being irrigated through borewell water. The impact of rain on paddy crop will vary under different circumstances.”

Former North India Cotton Association president Ashok Kapur claimed that the rainfall would be beneficial for cotton crop, although he too felt that it might lead to damage in case the fields were submerged and it was followed by another spell of rain. He opined that there won’t be any damage to the crop, if the weather opened up now. “Cotton crop doesn’t need excessive rainfall,” he added.

Chief Agriculture Officer GS Sidhu said the rainfall was largely beneficial for both paddy and cotton crops. He said they were yet to receive report of rain causing damage to any of the crops.

pspcl heaves sigh of relief   

• The deficient rainfall till now had been a cause of constant concern, as it was putting a lot of pressure on Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to supply additional power to pump groundwater for irrigation. 
• PSPCL officials said the demand for power had dropped sharply over the past two days. 
• A heavy spell of shower that lashed Bathinda and surrounding areas over the last 24 hours has brought cheer to paddy farmers, although cotton farmers are a bit cautious.