Sukhmeet Bhasin
Bathinda, June 12
Not waiting for June 17 when paddy transplantation officially kicks off in Malwa, farmers in several villages of the region have started transplanting paddy in advance.
Will face action
Farmers transplanting paddy before June 17 will face action. The crop will be uprooted and the police deployed in the fields. — Manjeet Singh, Agriculture officer, Mansa
Since Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) is not providing paddy farmers with electricity as of now, they have been running diesel generators to run motors for the irrigation purpose.
BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) leader Shingara Singh Mann said, “Farmers are sowing long-duration paddy varieties. If they wait till June 17, the crop will ripen late, creating problems for them.”
He demanded of the government to release water in canals and channels, which were running dry. This would reduce the burden on groundwater, said Mann.
The state government had notified no farmer would be allowed to transplant paddy before June 17 in Malwa. Earlier, transplantation of paddy used to begin on June 1 but, for the past few years, the government has been delaying the practice to check the falling water table, reduce the burden of subsidy and improve the quality of basmati.
Farmers, however, seem unperturbed. Paddy transplantation has started in villages where farm unions hold sway. Farmer leader Gora Singh Bhainibagha said, “Farmers need not worry about the the government’s order. They should start sowing paddy without fear.”
Chief Agriculture Officer, Mansa, Manjeet Singh said: “I have launched a campaign to take action against farmers who transplant paddy before June 17. Paddy will be uprooted.”
Farmers start sowing paddy in advance
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