Delayed monsoon may affect paddy acreage in Haryana

The delayed monsoon in northern parts of India might impact the acreage of paddy in Haryana, even as agriculture department officials are trying their best to achieve a target of bringing 1.15 million hectares under paddy cultivation this year, against 1.21 million hectares in the previous year.

Haryana contributes 17-22 metric tonne of paddy every year to the central pool.

According to state agriculture officials, the delayed monsoon that has caused scanty rainfall in Haryana may offset their plans.

Officials said artificial irrigation could offer a solution to negate the impact of scanty rainfall on paddy acreage.

Around 80 per cent of the total area under paddy cultivation in the state operates through tube well irrigation and in the absence of adequate rain, the dependency on artificial irrigation has become even more imperative.

Artificial irrigation (irrigation through tube well) could help the agriculture department meet its targets.

Transplantation of paddy in Haryana started from June 15 and would continue till July 31.

According to B S Duggal, additional director, agriculture (Haryana), scanty rainfall may affect the area under paddy cultivation.

He added that the deficient rainfall may result in area under basmati cultivation in Haryana to move up.

“While the area under common paddy in Haryana this year could be around 45 per cent, area under basmati cultivation is likely to go up to 55 per cent compared with 40-45 per cent last year,” Duggal added.

Reason for area under basmati cultivation to increase in Haryana is because PUSA-1121 variety has been notified as basmati rice by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Another reason is that since basmati consumes less water and is sown late (sowing of basmati commenced in Haryana since July 15), it may attract the attention of farmers especially with scanty rainfall.