Punjab issues advisory on rice seedling transplantation

MULTAN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jul, 2026) Punjab Agriculture Department has issued a fresh advisory urging rice growers to adopt recommended transplantation practices to ensure healthy crop establishment and improved yields during the ongoing cultivation season.

According to the advisory, farmers should irrigate rice nurseries one to two days before uprooting seedlings to soften the soil and facilitate easy removal of plants without damaging their roots.

Officials advised maintaining a spacing of 9 inches between rows and plants, while transplanting two seedlings per hill. Seedlings should be transplanted in 1 to 1.5 inches of standing water, with the water depth maintained at around 2 inches during the first week, ensuring it does not exceed 3 inches.

The advisory further recommends completing the process within 10 days after uprooting the seedlings. For puddled fields, seedlings should be 25 to 30 days old, while for dry direct-seeded fields, the recommended seedling age is 35 to 40 days.

The agriculture spokesman also advised farmers to drain excess water from fields after heavy rainfall. It urged growers to apply fertilizers and crop protection chemicals only after rainfall has stopped and in consultation with local officials of the agriculture department.

He emphasized that these recommendations would help improve crop establishment, promote healthy plant growth, and contribute to better rice production.