Farmers in Kashmir valley are all set to reap a bumper rice crop this year, following timely rains and with no outbreak of disease this year.

The agriculture department is expecting a yield of 500,000 metric tones of paddy crop this year, compared to 495,000 metric tones achieved last year. Out of a total 160,000 hectare of land cultivated in Kashmir valley, the department has achieved a production of 495,000 metric tones of rice previous year.