Experts fear 10-15% drop in wheat yield in Punjab due to delay in sowing
PATIALA: With only 65% wheat sown in Punjab so far, agricultural experts fear 10% to 15% drop in the yield due to delay in sowing this season.
In previous years, 85% of wheat sowing was completed till November 15, but the late harvesting of paddy has delayed the process this year.
As per the guidelines of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, wheat sowing beyond November 15 means loss of productivity.
“The wheat yield drops by 1 to 1.5 quintal per acre with each week’s delay. However, we have late varieties as well, which can be sown till November-end,” said PAU director (extension) Dr Jaskaran Singh Mahal.
Wheat has been sown over around 65% area of the targeted 34.80 lakh hectare cultivable land in Punjab by Thursday, according to the data furnished by the agriculture department.
“There is a slight delay in the process of wheat cultivation, but it has gained pace now and around 65% area has been covered so far. Late heavy monsoon rain and early winter is also the reason behind the delay,” said state agriculture director Jasbir Singh Bains.
‘FAULTY POLICY ON PADDY TRANSPLANTATION’
Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Bku-dakaunda) said the state government has prepared an irrational and faulty policy on transplantation of paddy.
The late sowing of paddy has caused late harvesting due to which wheat sowing fell short by 20% as only 65% of the cultivable land has been covered in the state by November 15, the date recommended by PAU experts.
However, farmers claim that the exact percentage of wheat cultivation so far could be even lower than the government figures.
“Even the 65% figure given by the agriculture department is inflated as sowing is yet to take place over a large part of Malwa belt. In previous years, around 85% of the land was sown by November 15. The delay will result in 10% to 15% drop in the yield of wheat this season,” he added.
On the other hand, Punjab might miss its target of 200 lakh metric tonne (LMT) paddy procurement as 153.6 LMT of paddy was procured in the state till November 14.
‘DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR FARMERS’
Gurmeet Singh Battiwal, vicepresident, BKU (Dakaunda), said paddy yield is already low this year and now the delay in sowing will bring a decline in wheat yield, which will be a double whammy for the farmers of Punjab this season.
“As Punjab has diverse climate conditions in Majha, Malwa and Doaba regions, the government should have rationalised the policy for paddy sowing instead of imposing a blanket ban across the state on transplantation of paddy before June 20,” Battiwal said.
“Due to the government’s irrational move, farmers are suffering. We had opposing this decision from the beginning and warned the government of its consequences,” he added.