Scanty rain spurs uprooting of paddy in Muktsar

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, August 5

Facing acute shortage of water due to weak monsoon so far, farmers in Muktsar district have started uprooting paddy crop.

Corroborating the fact, officials of Agriculture Department said they had started preparing a report in that regard. Muktsar district has so far witnessed 207 mm rainfall since June 1 this year.

Though the situation was comparatively better in Muktsar block, there was minimal rain in Malout and Gidderbaha blocks, said a department official.

Due to whitefly attack on cotton crop last year, most farmers switched to paddy this year. However, adverse weather conditions have not only increased their input costs, but these are also bound to affect yield.

“Paddy crop needs plenty of water, but farmers are unable to maintain the required water level due to poor monsoon. This is bound to affect crop yield. Even weeds are increasing. Farmers are using diesel-run tubewells to save their crops and this has increased their input costs,” he said.

Dr Beant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said, “We have reports that some farmers have uprooted their paddy crop in our district. Some of them have even approached us and sought maize seeds. Now, I have asked all field officers to prepare a report in that regard.”

“Both major crops—paddy and cotton—require water at this stage. The cotton crop is flowering and needs water for bumper yield. Normal varieties of paddy and basmati also need plenty of water. If there are two good rains over the next 10 days, it will prove much beneficial for the farmers or it will show adverse effect on the yield.”

Around 1.4 lakh hectare area has been brought under paddy cultivation and 45,000 hectares under cotton cultivation in Muktsar district this year.

Courtesy: The Tribune