Chandigarh, June 7, 2013: The efforts of Punjab Governments Agricultural Department to save the underground water by encouraging direct plantation of paddy has registered a impressive success as the area under the direct plantation has increased more than double during the ongoing season. Now the area under direct paddy increased from 50 thousand acre to 1.25 lakh acre.
Mangal Singh Sidhu Director, Agriculture Department of Punjab, today said that the area under direct paddy increased from 50 thousand acre to 1.25 lakh acre. He said that Punjab Government was started a campaign to aware the farmers about the benefits of direct paddy plantation. Apart from that Government was also providing financial benefits to farmers under ATMA and National Food Security Mission for direct paddy plantation.
He also said that with this method of plantation more than 25 to 30 % water could be saved for the rice production as well as increasing the per acre production by 7%. He also appealed the farmers to plant paddy only after June 10.
He further asked the agriculture department officials to ensure the implementation of paddy plantation deadline across the state.