HOW WILL THE DECISION TO DELAY KHARIF CROP AFFECT RABI CROPS?

Farmers fear the delay will tinker with the cropping pattern — wheat sowing, for which the ideal period is November 10-20, will too get delayed. “Delayed paddy harvest leaves even shorter window for rabi crops. Potato is sown in mid-october; but, with paddy still in the fields, the farmers can’t sow potato,” says Rajewal. In 10 years from 2008, paddy transplantation has been pushed by 10 days. In 2008, the state government mandated through a law not to sow paddy before June 10. The PAU vice-chancellor has said the plan was to start transplanting paddy by July 1, when the monsoon sets in so as to use rainwater.