Haryana paddy area likely to meet target

Despite floods damaging considerable area under paddy in Haryana, agriculture department is hoping the area under paddy in Haryana is certain to reach the target.

Haryana had set a target of 1,150,000 hectares under paddy this year, however the torrential rains ensuing floods had resulted in damage of 270,000 hectare area posing a threat to the state.

Officials in Haryana agriculture department maintained, paddy area in Haryana had already crossed 1,100,000 hectares and was expected to touch 1,130,000 hectares till August 4 as per rough estimates. However, final data was yet to be compiled.

They added that in all probability the target area under paddy was likely to be met , even though it would fall short of last year-area of 1,205,000 hectares.

The floods last month caused considerable damage to the paddy crop, in the state.

Officials maintained timely steps had already been taken and farmers were advised to raise the paddy nursery of short duration or Basmati varieties immediately and transplant it before the first week of August. Direct seeding of basmati variety is also being advocated to the farmers to curtail the overall maturity period of the crop

The state government had made provisions for supplying seeds of Basmati varieties at subsidised rate in the flood-affected areas.

The agriculture department added, this year the area under basmati was anticipated to rise on account of floods. They said basmati area in Haryana could touch 65 per cent of the total paddy area as against 50 per cent area projected earlier.

Farmers in districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and some parts of Karnal who suffered losses to the crop on account of water deluging the fields, would opt for basmati sowing leading to increase in the area under basmati.