The sowing season for the world-renowned Basmati paddy has commenced across the border belts of Jammu division, with the crop expected to cover nearly 63,000 hectares of land in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, officials said on Sunday. Known globally for its distinctive aroma and superior grain quality, Jammu Basmati remains one of the region's most important cash crops. The highly aromatic rice grown in the R S Pura belt was granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2016, enhancing its recognition in domestic and international markets.