LUDHIANA, 14 July 2025: With just over a month into the Kharif transplantation window, more than 90 percent of the targeted paddy cultivation area in Ludhiana has already been covered, according to the district agriculture department.
Chief Agricultural Officer Gurdeep Singh confirmed that 90–92% of the expected area under paddy cultivation has been sown since transplantation began in early June. "The remaining 10 percent includes fields with standing crops like summer maize and moong, which will be harvested in the coming 10 days," he said. These plots will also be planted with paddy immediately after, using short-duration varieties such as PR 126, to ensure timely harvesting before Rabi sowing begins.
The state agriculture department has set a target of 2.58 lakh hectares of paddy cultivation in Ludhiana district for the current season. To ensure a staggered and efficient transplantation schedule, Punjab was divided into three zones this year. Transplantation began on June 9 in Zone 3, which includes Ludhiana.
The district has so far received 189.3 mm of rainfall, significantly above the normal 130.4 mm, which has aided the process. According to Buta Singh Dhillon, paddy expert at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), this rainfall has positively impacted the early stages of transplantation.
He elaborated that ample rainfall and lower day-time temperatures mitigate the transplantation shock—typically experienced during uprooting and replanting—resulting in healthier plants and potentially higher yields. Additionally, better soil moisture enhances labour efficiency and conserves groundwater, making the season particularly favourable for farmers.
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