Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Paddy transplantation starts 3 days before official date

BATHINDA: Not waiting for the official date for start of the paddy transplantation, several farmers have started transplantation in many villages in Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, at least three days ahead of the schedule. At some places the activists of farmer organisations are making farmers to transplant paddy without any fear of agriculture department officials. The farmers in village Phool in Bathinda, Bhainibagha in Mansa and other places started transplanting paddy on Sunday. The state government has announced to allow transplantation from June 10. The direct seeding of rice (DSR) had started from June 1. Paddy is expected to be transplanted in 27 lakh hectares, out of which basmati rice is expected in 7 lakh hectares. Nearly, 6 lakh hectares is to come under DSR. The Punjab government had enacted a law in 2009 regarding notifying a date to start transplanting of paddy. As per the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009, the agriculture department officials are authorised to destroy the paddy transplanted before the notified date and impose penalty of Rs 10,000 on violating farmer. Activists of Krantikari Kisan Union assembled at Phool village, whereas activists of Punjab Kisan Union assembled at Bhainibagha village in Mansa to transplant paddy on Sunday and Monday. They have also started demanding 12 hours electricity supply to farm sector so that farmers could easily transplant the crop. “As there is huge shortage of labour for paddy transplantation, there farmers need longer window. As more and more farmers will soon start transplanting paddy necessitating more labourers, we decided to make farmers to start transplanting 3-4 days in advance,” Krantikari Kisan Union president Surjit Singh Phool said trying to justifying breaking the law. Punjab Kisan Union vice president Gora Singh Bhainibagha said, “We are on the vigil so that no official from state agriculture department dares to reach at the fields to plough it.” Punjab agriculture department director Sutantar Kumar said field officers have been asked to ensure no farmer transplanted paddy before the cut-off date. “Actions are being taken against violations,” he added.

The Times of India

2020-06-10

Amritsar