Haryana: Record production of 103 lakh tonne wheat

Chandigarh, Jun 14 (UNI) Haryana has achieved the record production of wheat of 102 lakh tonnes during the recent Rabi season.

Stating this here today, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department said wheat production of 100.55 lakh tonnes was achieved during the last Rabi season.

He said the adoption of new technologies in the cultivation of wheat by the farmers had led to the highest production of wheat.

The state farmers had extensively made use of Zero Tillage Seed Drill Machine for the sowing of their wheat crop and brought an area of six lakh hectares under this technology which had also improved the wheat productivity, he said.

Besides, the record production was also the result of the concerted efforts of the department to educate the farmers regarding timely sowing, seed treatment, promotion of area specific varieties and proper weed management.

He said the farmers responded well to the call of the department and a record area of 24. 74 lakh hectares was brought under wheat crop against last year coverage of 23.76 lakh hectares.

This had also contributed a lot to the record wheat production. Zero tillage sowing not only reduced the cost of cultivation but it also yielded 2.50 quintals per hectares more than conventional method of sowing. This system also saved precious water and facilitates early sowing of wheat.

He said the government agencies had already procured more than 50 lakh tonnes of wheat on Minimum Support Price while last year only 33.50 lakh tonnes was procured. It was anticipated that procurement might cross 52 lakh tonnes resulting into more than 50 per cent increase in procurement over the last year.

UNI MA BK1840