Punjab expects highest ever paddy yield amid smog outcry

CHANDIGARH: Punjab is expecting to achieve the highest ever productivity of paddy — around 64 quintals per hectare — this time.

But this good news is so far lost in the smoke that fields in the state are emitting due to stubble burning, causing a big outcry in the national capital.

Dense smoke has engulfed skies from Lahore to New Delhi for which Punjab and the neighbouring Haryana are being blamed.

“Punjab farmers are on the threshold of achieving a landmark. We are expecting to touch the highest ever paddy production. But no one is talking about it. Instead, our farmers are being rebuked for causing environmental nuisance,” said state agriculture director JS Bains while talking to HT.

He said per hectare production of paddy is likely to be around 64 quintals this year. “It was 61.93 quintal last year and is expected to increase by two quintals this time,” he said. Despite a fall of at least one lakh hectare in the total area under paddy cultivation in the current kharif season, the production this year is expected to touch the last year’s production of 188 lakh tonne.

During the last kharif season, 30.4 lakh hectares was under paddy cultivation, but the area has come down to 29.26 lakh hectares this year. Currently, state procurement agencies have made arrangements to procure 182 lakh tonne paddy.

“In case, more paddy arrives in the mandi, we are prepared to procure it,” said a top official of the state food and civil supplies department. Already, 165 lakh tonne produce has reached the mandis of the state and the procurement will go on till December 15. “We have no time to rejoice, but we want to defend our farmers after the smog has engulfed the region,” said Bains.

Bir Dalwinder Singh, a farmer from Kalar Majri said, “Despite achieving a benchmark in productivity, farmers are looked down upon because they are blamed for environmental crisis.”