Punjab Govt Announces Paddy Sowing Schedule 2026: State Divided into 4 Zones to Save Water

PNT Media — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:26:57 +0530

CHANDIGARH – Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday announced a staggered schedule for paddy transplanting across Punjab for the 2026 season. In a strategic move to conserve depleting groundwater and manage the electricity load, the state has been divided into four distinct zones.

The government has also preponed the transplanting date to June 1 (previously June 10) to ensure the crop is harvested before the high-moisture period in October, aiding smoother procurement.

Key Highlights of the Schedule

1. Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)

Dates: May 15 to May 31.
Coverage: Throughout the state.
Incentive: The government continues to encourage DSR to save up to 20% of water.

2. Zone-Wise Transplantation (Puddling Method)

To prevent a sudden surge in power demand, transplantation will begin in phases:

Zone	Start Date	Districts Covered
Zone 1	June 1	Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur.
Zone 2	June 5	Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, and Fazilka.
Zone 3	June 9	Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and SBS Nagar (Nawanshahr).
Zone 4	June 1	Specific border areas and regions already utilizing early canal water.

Power and Water Supply Assurance

The Chief Minister assured the farming community of robust support during the sowing season:

8 Hours of Power: Farmers will receive an uninterrupted 8-hour daily power supply for tubewells starting from their respective zonal dates.
Canal Water: Canal water release will begin as early as May 1 to assist in field preparation and DSR.
Investment: Over ₹6,700 crore has been spent on upgrading canal infrastructure and pipelines up to March 2026 to reduce reliance on groundwater.

Why the Staggered Approach?

According to the government, this "4-Zone" formula serves three major purposes:

Water Conservation: Reduces the massive strain on the water table by spreading out the irrigation period.
Grid Stability: Prevents power grid failures by avoiding a state-wide spike in electricity demand on a single day.
Labor Management: Helps farmers manage labor shortages by extending the transplanting window across the state.

Important Note for Farmers

The government has reiterated its stance on Pusa-44, discouraging its cultivation due to its long duration and high water consumption. Farmers are instead urged to use short-duration varieties like PR-126 to ensure timely sowing of the next wheat crop.