Contract farming of basmati in Punjab on the rise

Jalandhar, Sep 6 (UNI) The contract farming of basmati is expected to record over six fold increase next year, Cooperatives Minister Amarjit Singh Samra said today.

He said Markfed had undertaken contract farming of basmati on 16,000 acres, with a buy back tie up with Sri Lal Mahal Group, which is the largest exporter of the agri commodity.

In the next year, the area of cultivation of basmati is expected to be extended to 1,00,000 acres, he said.

He said the Markfed is promoting new techniques like ridge cultivation and direct sowing of basmati which would further reduce the water uptake without affecting crop yield.

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