Even though the Punjab Government allowed paddy transplantation from June 1 this year, the pace of transplantation remains slow across many villages in the district. Farmers say that the late announcement regarding the revised transplantation schedule left them with little time to prepare nurseries, resulting in delays in field operations.
Traditionally, paddy transplantation in the district used to begin after June 20 as part of measures to conserve groundwater. However, the government advanced the date to June 1 this year. While the decision was welcomed by farmers, many claim that the announcement came too late for them to make timely arrangements for raising paddy seedlings.
A visit to several villages revealed that large areas are yet to be transplanted and farmers are still preparing their fields. Agricultural experts believe that transplantation activity is expected to pick up in the coming days as nurseries mature.
Gurmeet Singh, a farmer from Pandoori village, said that he could not sow his nursery on time because the revised schedule was announced only a few weeks before the transplantation season.
“We were preparing according to the old schedule. By the time the government announced the new date, many farmers had already missed the ideal period for nursery sowing. As a result, the seedlings were not ready by June 1,” he said.
Another farmer, Harjit Singh, said that the change created confusion among cultivators. “The government should have informed farmers several months in advance. Most of us arrange labour, seeds and irrigation plans according to the expected transplantation date. A sudden change disrupted our preparations,” he said.
Farmers also pointed out that power disruptions in some rural areas following recent storms have further slowed field activities. Adequate irrigation is essential for transplantation, and many growers are waiting for a stable electricity supply before proceeding.
