Punjab sees 12.58% growth in basmati cultivation area during kharif season

Deep bhatti : The minister announced that the cultivation of long-grain rice has increased significantly to 6.71 lakh hectares, marking a substantial growth from the previous kharif season's 5.96 lakh hectares.

                             Image credit by owner 

Published by Arshdeep Singh 

The state's Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) program saw a remarkable 46.5% increase in area coverage, a major achievement highlighted by the Agriculture Minister.

Punjab's Crop Diversification Drive Achieves Notable Success

The Agriculture Minister of Punjab, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, has announced a substantial expansion in the area dedicated to basmati cultivation in the state during the ongoing kharif season. The latest data reveals a 12.58% increase in basmati cultivation, with the area rising from 5.96 lakh hectares in the previous season to 6.71 lakh hectares currently.

Top Performing Districts:

The following districts have emerged as leaders in basmati cultivation:

1. Amritsar: With 1.46 lakh hectares dedicated to basmati cultivation, Amritsar tops the list.

2. Muktsar: Muktsar follows closely with 1.10 lakh hectares.

3. Fazilka: Fazilka has allocated 84.9 thousand hectares for basmati cultivation.

4. Tarn Taran: Tarn Taran has dedicated 72.5 thousand hectares to basmati cultivation.

5. Sangrur: Sangrur rounds out the top five with 49.8 thousand hectares.

Growth in Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)

In addition to the expansion in basmati cultivation, the area under Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) has also witnessed a remarkable increase of 46.5% compared to the previous season. This significant growth underscores the effectiveness of Punjab's crop diversification drive in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing crop yields.

Objectives of the Crop Diversification Drive

The crop diversification drive, a flagship initiative of the Punjab government, aims to:

1. Reduce dependence on traditional crops like wheat and paddy.

2. Promote more profitable and sustainable crops like basmati rice.

3. Enhance farmers' income through improved yields and better market prices.

The success of this drive is expected to have a positive impact on the state's agricultural economy, benefiting farmers and contributing to the overall growth of the sector.