Experts suggest sowing maize, bajra, veggies instead in Punjab

A farmer and a boy use buckets to drain rainwater from a flooded paddy field on the outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab. File pic/AFP

As the recent flood wreaked havoc in many parts of Punjab, causing extensive damage to the paddy crop, experts have suggested farmers grow alternative crops if sowing the Kharif crop again is not possible August 7-8.

Many areas in Punjab were affected by heavy rainfall between July 9 and 11. Of the over 6 lakh acres of fields that were flooded, paddy needs to be sown again in over 2 lakh acres, said Gurwinder Singh, director, state agriculture department. Fields in several areas are still flooded and water will take several more days to recede.

Farmers have been asked to sow the summer crop again by the first week of August. Otherwise, experts said, the harvesting will get delayed and will eventually impact the wheat crop sowing in November.

Maize crop will be used as fodder for cattle, Singh said. Moong can fetch remunerative prices, besides improving the soil health and it can be ready within 60-65 days, the official said.

Gurmeet Singh Buttar, director of Extension Education at Punjab Agricultural University, said farmers can grow vegetables, bajra (pearl millet) in August and they can also go for oilseeds crop in September.

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