Boom in paddy crop anticipated this year

Ranbirsinghpura (J-K), July 24 : A good crop of paddy is anticipated this year with timely monsoon rain in Ranbirsinghpura Border belt of Jammu and Kashmir.

Paddy is the principal crop in the valley and the border area of Ranbirsinghpura boasts of producing one of the best qualities of basmati rice, popular across the country and exported to other countries as well.

The district has already finished 70 per cent of sowing this season.

"As monsoons have arrived early this year, we were able to sow paddy at this time. If we had depended on irrigation department or canals then this would not have been possible till August. The farmers are very happy and excited because they have sown almost 70 per cent-80 per cent of the paddy by this time," said Vijay Kumar, a farmer.

There has been a three-fold increase in the price of basmati rice from Rs.2000-Rs.2500 per quintal last year to Rs.6000-Rs.6500 this year.

Farming and related activities provide livelihood to over two-thirds of the country's 1.1 billion people. By Rajesh Vidhayarthi

ANI