Paddy, cotton sowing under pressure in Haryana amid weak monsoon

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has seen considerable decline in area under paddy, cotton and bajra as kharif sowing is on the verge of completion amid poor monsoon. Paddy acreage has surapssed the targeted area in Punjab.

Haryana this year will see shortfall of 1.38 lakh hectares of paddy acreage as compared to the target of 12 lakh hectares.

The State Agriculture Department said that the the effect on basmati rice cultivation is expected to worse as the state managed to bring 10.62 lakh hectares under basmati as compared to 12.35 lakh hectares last year.

Haryana is responsible for 40% of India's basmati output with nearly 7.5-8 lakh hectares under basmati varieties.