Haryana, Punjab push non-paddy cultivation

NEW DELHI: Depleting water table and shortage of farm labour have prompted Haryana and Punjab to promote planting of crops other than paddy. The Haryana government has announced an incentive of ₹7,000 per acre for non-paddy cultivation, while Punjab is urging farmers to go for maize instead of paddy. In recent years, the Centre has been asking Punjab and Haryana to encourage crop diversification.

Haryana has banned paddy cultivation in eight water-stressed blocks besides announcing the cash incentive for planting other crops. Last year, the state gave an incentive of ₹2,000 per acre besides free seeds and other inputs for diversification to maize.