Special campaign against 'Satthi' paddy in Haryana

Chandigarh, May 6 (UNI) The special campaign launched by the Haryana Agriculture Department to motivate farmers for not sowing 'satthi' variety of paddy or uproot the already sown has yielded encouraging results as the farmers themselves are urging growers to stop its cultivation.

State Agriculture Director R K Khullar, who yesterday addressed farmers at Horticulture Training Centre, Uchani in district Karnal said as compared to cultivation of 'satthi' in 3500 hectares in Fatehabad last year, at present the crop was in an area of only 150 acres as most of the crop has been uprooted by the farmers following the appeal.

Similarly, in Kurukshetra district, 'satthi' could be seen in 50 acres at present as against its cultivation over an area of 1350 acres during last year.

Mr Khullar said the Agriculture Department has been motivating the farmers to immediately stop cultivation of 'satthi' variety of paddy as it consumed a large quantity of water and has already lowered water table in areas of its cultivation.

Mr Khullar said that the situation was such that over the years the water table had been lowered from 50-100 feet to as low as 300-800 feet at present.

He made the farmers understand that production of 1 kg paddy required 5500 liters of water. Assuming the cost of water as Re 1 per litre, 1 kg of paddy would require water worth Rs. 5500.

Therefore, it was in no way a profitable crop.

He cautioned if the farmers continued to grow 'satthi', it would adversely affect not only the farmers, but even others as it would further reduce the water table.

Mr Khullar urged the farmers to adopt modern techniques of cultivation and increase their income.

UNI DP VJ VP0555