Indigenous paddy cultivation expanded to 8,300 ha in Sundargarh

PROGRAMME for cultivation of non-basmati indigenous aromatic and non-aromatic paddy in organic way has been expanded to another 3,000 hectare to cover a total of 8,300 hectare of agriculture land in Sundargarh district in the ongoing kharif crop season 2025-26.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Rourkela

In the first year of its implementation in 2023-24, the 'promotion of indigenous aromatic and non-aromatic paddy with export potential/local market' scheme started with 1,000 ha in Subdega, Balishankara, Lefripada, Rajgangpur and Baragaon blocks of the district. In the next year, another 4,300 ha was covered with addition of Gurundia and Bonai blocks. In 2025-26, another 3,000 ha has been programmed with inclusion of Sundargarh and Tangarpali blocks, taking the total land covered under the scheme to 8,300 ha.