Office of District Public Relations Officer, Batala
Need to increase area under rainfed maize to conserve groundwater: Dr. Amrik Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer
Batala23 JUNE 2025 FACT RECORDER
Punjab Desk: Under a pilot project initiated by the Punjab government in Gurdaspur district to bring maize cultivation under rainfed conditions by reducing cultivation under irrigation, maize will be cultivated over an area of 2000 hectares. Farmers are encouraged to support this target. During an inspection of the maize crop sown on 3 acres by farmer Harbhajan Singh in village Bhaam of block Sri Hargobindpur, Dr. Amrik Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, shared his views.
Dr. Amrik Singh explained that in Gurdaspur district, the Punjab government has launched a pilot project to reduce irrigation-based cultivation (“jhone”) and promote rainfed maize cultivation. He highlighted that continuous irrigation has been causing a decline in groundwater levels, which may pose significant challenges for future farming.
To encourage maize cultivation under rainfed conditions, the Punjab government has initiated this pilot project covering 2000 hectares in Gurdaspur district. Farmers who switch from irrigated (“jhone”) maize to rainfed maize during the sowing season will receive an incentive of Rs. 17,500 per hectare, directly credited to their bank accounts.
He further advised farmers currently harvesting irrigated maize to shift to rainfed maize cultivation, which should ideally be completed by the end of June. The government is also making arrangements for the purchase of maize this season and will ensure its procurement at a minimum support price.
To strengthen coordination between farmers and agricultural officers, 30 youth leaders from the villages have been appointed as “Kisan Mitras” (Farmer Friends), each responsible for promoting maize cultivation among farmers.
Block Agriculture Officer Dr. Shahbaz Singh Cheema emphasized that to increase productivity of rainfed maize, recommended techniques from Punjab Agricultural University should be adopted. He stated that to achieve profits comparable to irrigated cultivation, maize should be sown with a seed count of 33,000 plants per acre using pneumatic planters, seed drills, or by planting in rows.
Present at the occasion were Agriculture Extension Officer Manpreet Singh, along with Narinder Singh, Hardeep Singh, Dhanwant Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, and Amritpal Singh, all farmers.
