Why paddy sowing in Punjab depends on a court order this time, and the road ahead

Indian Express

15-05-2025

By now, paddy sowing should have been underway in Punjab. In fact, the state government has set June 1 as the date for paddy transplantation —when the crop is moved to the fields after being sown in nurseries. However, farmers are still waiting for the court's decision on what seeds they can use, and anxiety is mounting.
On April 7, the Punjab government banned the sale of hybrid paddy seeds due to concerns over high prices and low milling efficiency. This was challenged legally, and the next date of hearing in the Punjab and Haryana High Court is May 13, which many farmers feel could be too late.
In this scenario, while some have turned to neighbouring Haryana to buy hybrid seeds, others are still seeking alternatives.
Why do many Punjab farmers feel hybrid paddy seeds are important for them? What advantages do hybrid seeds have, and how are they developed? An expert answered these questions for The Indian Express.
Dr. AK Singh, former director and emeritus scientist of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, said hybrid seeds were critical to reduce the area under paddy, a water-guzzling crop, while also taking care of the yield levels. Hybrid rice varieties typically yield 1 to 1.5 tonnes more per hectare than traditional varieties.
'Recently, the central government has emphasised that the area under rice cultivation must be reduced by 5 million hectares, while production must be increased by 10 million tonnes. This challenge calls for innovation and scientific advancements. One of the most important technologies for improving productivity in rice is the adoption of hybrid rice varieties,' Singh said.
Singh said hybrid varieties with shorter growing periods (around 130 to 135 days) would allow for quicker harvests, facilitate wheat sowing, and use less water.
How are hybrid varieties developed?
The varieties are developed in research labs, modifying the seeds to achieve specific desired qualities. They are approved for commercial cultivation only after passing national testing standards.
About the seeds banned by Punjab, Singh said the hybrids were tested under the All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project at multiple locations, and met the minimum milling recovery standards of 67% (milling recovery refers to the amount of usable rice a paddy crop yields after milling, that is removal of husk and bran).
Singh identified two critical factors for the future of rice cultivation in Punjab — the availability of short-duration, high-yielding varieties, and the shift from transplanted rice farming to direct-seed rice (DSR) farming. DSR farming refers to sowing seeds directly in the farm, which saves water and labour.
Singh said the IARI has developed herbicide-tolerant basmati rice varieties, such as Pusa Basmati 1985 and Pusa Basmati 1979, which are suitable for DSR farming. These varieties save water by 30%, reduce transplanting costs by Rs 4,500 per acre, and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by 35%.
Singh also suggested linking these technologies to the carbon credit programme, which could further incentivise adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. 'The path ahead lies not in bans, but in promoting scientific innovations that support both sustainability and productivity. Policies must be based on evidence, not blanket restrictions,' he said.