CHANDIGARH, Nov 3 — Punjab has decided to cut the area under wheat this year. It is a direct consequence of the over-production of the crop in this part of the country in the past year.

The objective behind reducing the area under wheat is not only to slash the output but also diversify into oilseeds and pulses. Obviously, the problem of plenty has forced the state government to revise its policy on the sowing of various crops.

A top government officer dealing with agriculture in the state told TNS that the area under wheat during the current sowing season would be reduced by 90,000 hectares. The state Agriculture Department has planned to cover 33 lakh hectares under the wheat crop during this rabi season. Last year, the area under wheat was 33.90 lakh hectares. The sowing of wheat in the state has already started and will continue till the first week of December.

Farmers, after facing a tough time in the marketing of paddy this year, are inclined to find the alternative to the wheat crop. They have not found so far and have merely gone in for a marginal decrease in the area under this crop. Because of the huge wheat stock, lying in the state’s stores, the farming community has become apprehensive about marketing in April.

This year the government has fixed a target of producing 142 lakh tonnes of wheat compared to last year’s figure of 160 lakh tonnes. Last year the wheat output in the country was over 700 lakh tonnes compared to only 60 lakh tonnes in 1950-51.

The state is virtually overflowing with old stocks of wheat. At present, about 100 lakh tonnes of wheat is lying with the state government procurement agencies. This was procured in the past two years. The wheat stocks with certain other states are also far in excess of their requirements. The Union Government faced with the problem of excess buffer stocks of wheat, is trying hard to find a way out to dispose it of by catering to the needs of people below the poverty line.

The state Agriculture Department is focusing on oilseeds. The officer said that the area spared from the wheat crop would be diverted to oilseeds.

Mr Deep Singh Sahota, Director, Agriculture, Punjab, confirming the programme to double the areas under oilseeds, said the objective was to double the output this year.