At 31.93 lakh hectares, Punjab sees highest area under paddy

Even as this year’s area surpassed the previous year’s record of 31.68 lakh hectares for paddy and basmati combined, experts said that for a state like Punjab where water level is going down, it is not a good news.

In the preceding years, the state had witnessed its highest rice acreage in the following periods: 2022-23 (31.67 lakh hectares, including 4.94 lakh hectares for basmati), 2021-22 (31.45 lakh hectares, with 4.85 lakh hectares allocated for basmati), 2020-21 (31.49 lakh hectares, including 4.06 lakh hectares for basmati), 2019-20 (31.42 lakh hectares, with 6.29 lakh hectares for basmati), and 2018-19 (31.03 lakh hectares, including 5.11 lakh hectares for basmati). Initially, the Agriculture Department anticipated a similar acreage for paddy cultivation this year as in the previous year. However, the decrease in cotton cultivation during the Kharif season indicated that the acreage would shift to paddy, given that cotton is a prominent alternative to paddy cultivation.

The records demonstrate a significant rise in paddy cultivation within the districts comprising Punjab’s cotton belt. This region includes eight main districts: Bathinda, Fazilka, Mansa, Muktsar, Moga, Barnala, Sangrur, and Faridkot. Among these, Bathinda, Fazilka, Muktsar, and Mansa are the primary contributors to the cotton acreage.

Reports from the Agriculture Department reveal a huge shift from cotton to paddy cultivation in Bathinda, Mansa, and Muktsar. Bathinda has expanded its rice cultivation to 2.32 lakh hectares against 1.90 lakh hectares last year, marking a substantial increase of 42,000 hectares from the previous year. Mansa witnessed an expansion to 1.47 lakh hectares from 1.26 lakh hectares, signifying a growth of 21,000 hectares. Similarly, Muktsar District reported an expansion to 1.97 lakh hectares from 1.83 lakh hectares, showcasing a rise of 14,000 hectares. Collectively, these three districts have collectively reported a growth of 77,000 hectares.

The floods that ravaged several districts of Punjab in July necessitated re-transplanting across 86,500 hectares. Although farmers diligently re-transplanted the submerged crops, the aftermath of the recent floods in August submerged nearly 24,000 hectares once again, leaving the fate of these crops uncertain until the waters recede.

The floods led to a substantial reduction in cultivated area in several districts. For example, Tarn Taran witnessed a decrease of 12,000 hectares, with 1.70 lakh hectares recorded compared to the previous year’s 1.82 lakh hectares. Ferozepur reported 1.82 lakh hectares compared to 1.87 lakh hectares, marking a decrease of 5,000 hectares. Hoshiarpur reported 74,000 hectares against 81,000 hectares from the previous year—a decline of 7,000 hectares. Gurdaspur reported 1.70 lakh hectares, down from 1.73 lakh hectares. Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali, Pathankot, and Nawanshahr also reported reduced acreage compared to the previous year.

Sangrur recorded the highest rice acreage at 2.91 lakh hectares this year, a decrease of 600 hectares from the previous year. Ludhiana and Patiala closely followed with 2.57 lakh hectares and 2.32 lakh hectares, respectively.

“It is not a happy development that area under paddy is increasing because of the ever depleting water aquifers of the state and recommendations of brining the rice area below 20 lakh hecatres,” said a senior officer in the Punjab Agriculture department.

The officials attribute the surge in overall paddy cultivation to the shrinking cotton acreage in the state over successive years. The lack of substantial growth in other Kharif crops like maize, pulses, and sugarcane further reinforces paddy as a viable option for farmers. During the Kharif season, more than 36 lakh hectares are allocated for crops, with paddy and Basmati accounting for aaround 90% portion.