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| Untimely rains hit paddy, Jammu farmers worried | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 16: Farmers of the plains of Jammu province are worried a lot as a huge chunk of paddy crop is damaged due to untimely rains and storms in the “rice bowl” of this region.
Farmers have asked the Revenue Department to start survey to assess total losses- amid demand of relief by the affected families.
Unprecedented windstorm has caused huge damage to all kharif crops but Jammu’s indigenous paddy crop commonly known as Ranbir Basmati, variety 370, was badly affected.
370 Basmati is vulnerable crop as windstorm was witnessed in Jammu plains where this variety of paddy is sown. This is premium crops and give good return to the growers.
The height of the Ranbir Basmati crop is more as compared to other verities of paddy crop so the impact of Thursday’s high-velocity storm was more on this indigenous variety. A huge chunk of Ranbir Basmati crop has been lodged because of high-velocity winds and crops at the stage of grain production would be worst affected. The Ranbir Basmati variety grown in the Jammu plains exclusively in Jammu Samba and Kathua districts is famous for its long grain and fragrance. This variety has natural pest resistance. Unlike other parts of the country, the per-hectare use of pesticides is less in the plains of Jammu. Jammu produces one lakh metric tonnes of exotic varieties of basmati rice in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts in areas along the 198-km International Border with Pakistan. Around 30,000 metric tonnes is exported every year.
The areas where basmati is produced in Jammu fall between the flood plains of the river Chenab, the Tawi, the Basantar river and scores of rivulets which bring mineral-rich soil from the Himalayas and the Shivaliks mountains during rains.
Estimates indicate that 50,000 hectares in the state are under cultivation of different basmati varieties. About 40,000 hectares fall in Jammu district and 10,000 hectares in Samba and Kathua. |
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