According to unofficial reports, paddy acreage in the northern state of Punjab are likely to rise about 2.3 % to reach 2.67 million hectares (6.6 million acres) this year.

Punjab's state's farm department is also expecting an increase in the total area under paddy cultivation.  As on July 16 the crop covered about 2.5 million hectares, the state farm department said.

The farm department estimates paddy and rice output of 15.85 million MT and 10.6 million MT respectively, up from 15.63 million MT paddy and 10.49 million MT of rice in the previous year.