Paddy growing costs go up in Punjab

With Punjab recording a deficient rainfall this month, the cost of paddy cultivation touched a new high putting the farmers under pressure in the state, which is considered the food bowl of the country.

The state had recorded between 8-10 per cent deficient rainfall this month, officials said.

The demand for electricity has, meanwhile, increased, with farmers having to spend extra money for pumping water for irrigation, Punjab Agriculture Director B S Sidhu said.

Less rainfall would also lead to further depletion of ground water, he said, adding that last year the water table had gone down by around 42 cm.

However, the MET office is optimistic and have predicted that things might improve by the next week.

The estimated paddy target, planted during this season, was 145 lakh metric tonnes, officials said.

However, Sidhu exuded confidence that there would be no shortfall in paddy production. "Punjab has water... But with scant rainfall the cost of cultivation will increase as the demand for power and usage of pump sets to pump water will rise," he said.

Besides, a major area of concern is fodder, which occupies around four lakh hectares area in the state.

Horticulture crops and vegetables need continuous water. However, as there was a shortfall in rains, these crops were likely to suffer, he said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab State Electricity Board officials maintained that the supply of power would be regulated so as to bail out the farming community.