Farmers sowing paddy in Nabha before deadline

Tribune News Service

Nabha, June 19 

Facing shortage of labour, the farmers in the region have started sowing paddy before June 20, which is a deadline set up by the state government, thus violating the  government orders. 

Due to the government notification, the farmers are irked as the sowing season has been delayed by about 10 days this year. Moreover, there was shortage of labourers as the migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have decided to arrive in the state after June 20. 

However, the farmers took advantage of the recent rains as they got sufficient water for irrigating their land and planted the paddy saplings in their fields two to threedays  in advance. 

Meanwhile, the labourers have also increased their wages by 25 to 30 per cent this year. Earlier, the farmers were paying Rs 3,000 per acre, while this year the labourers were demanding Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 per acre. This is adding burden on the farmers as well.