Sowing almost over, state eyes bumper paddy yield

With water table depleting at alarming rate and pollution from stubble burning on the rise, experts say the future of Punjab's agricultural model is bleak

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

Punjab is on track for a record paddy harvest this kharif season, with 30.94 lakh hectares already sown. While farmers are jubilant over the predicted bumper crop, experts are sounding the alarm over the long-term ecological damage the practice may be causing.

Punjab is expecting a paddy yield of 185 lakh tonnes this year, a marginal increase from the last season's 182 lakh tonnes.

With the state's water table depleting at an alarming rate and pollution from stubble burning on the rise, experts say the future of Punjab's agricultural model is in question.

According to figures released by the agriculture directorate, the coarse paddy grain covered under the minimum support price (MSP) has been sown over 25.19 lakh hectares and 5.75 lakh hectares is under the premium aromatic variety basmati.

"It is going to be a good crop because at time of sowing, the conditions were ideal with abundant rainfall and most conducive temperature," said Punjab agriculture director Jaswant Singh, adding that 50,000 to 60,000 hectares more area is expected to be under the crop.