Punjab may allow paddy crop shifting only after June 15

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government may pass an Act where summer paddy would not be allowed to be transplanted before June 15. The Act is aimed at preserving sub soil water and improve soil health in Punjab.

The State Framers Commission had earlier sent a proposal to the state government to this effect. The proposal also sought that no farmer shall sow nursery of paddy before May 10 and recommended penalty on the farmer who committed breach of any of the provisions. The fine was to be in addition to the recovery of the charges actually incurred for destroying the crop sown/transplanted before a prescribed date.

Speaking to ET, state financial secretary development (Agriculture) G S Sandhu said that the department was processing the proposal. "By next week we will be submitting the report to the agriculture minister. The date will be notified by the government. It is too early to comment on the fine to be imposed."

Mr Sandhu said the proposal was desirable for the farmers of Punjab. "We are getting active support from the Bhartiya Kisan Union operating in the state, which is even demanding on the penalty," he said.

According to Puanjab agriculture department officials, even though awareness campaigns have been launched in various villages to persuade farmers to grow green manuring crops like dhaincha or summer moong, nurseries of paddy were being grown and transplanted to farms without guilt and fear.

Approximately free seeds of dhaincha, worth Rs 10 lakh have been distributed to farmers in Punjab who were willing to replace saathi with this green manuring crop.