Good monsoon augurs well for RS Pura rice growers

Good monsoon augurs well for RS Pura rice growers
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

RS Pura, August 29
Farmers of RS Pura, known as the rice bowl of the state, are expecting a higher yield as the rainfall so far has been about 846.8 mm.

“Last year, the monsoon was weak, which adversely affected the production.But this year, the recent heavy rain has helped in the proper growth of the crop,” said Gurdeep Singh, a rice grower.

This correspondent talked to a number of farmers. “ We are expecting the yield to double, as the rain and the Agriculture Department have been helpful to us,” said Chaudhary Dev Raj, president of the RS Pura Rice Growers Association.

The Agriculture Department had provided hybrid seeds to the farmers this year, which would increase the production. “Now, the government should make arrangements to ensure that the farmers get remunerative prices for their produce,” said Dev Raj.

Meanwhile, officials of the Agriculture Department said they were also expecting a high yield and were arranging buyer-seller meets at various places across the state.

“As per our fresh survey reports, the crop will be ready by the end of October.There has been an increase of 20 per cent in the total sown area this year, which will also lead to an overall increase in the production,” said VK Bhakri, joint director, Agriculture Department.So far, the crop had not come under any pest attack,he added.

Scientists in the Agronomy Department of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) also said that the monsoon this year would be good for the rice growers.