&w=3840&q=100)
Punjab's ban on hybrid paddy seeds draws flak from seed industry
'Hybrid rice consistently delivers five to six quintals higher productivity per acre, with better water efficiency. By blocking these seeds, the state is effectively writing off roughly one-month income of a small farmer's earnings,' said Ajai Rana, Chairman of FSII and also that of CII North Region Agriculture Committee.
'The ban's timing is particularly concerning, as the Kharif 2025 sowing season approaches. Farmers and seed dealers are left in a state of uncertainty, potentially leading to significant economic losses,' Rana, also a noted seeds expert, said.
FSII has also filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the state's decision. The hearing is scheduled for later this month.
The Punjab government, in an order issued April 7, banned the cultivation of hybrid rice varieties for the upcoming paddy transplantation season.
The state argued that some hybrid paddy varieties were banned on concerns over groundwater depletion and allegations of poor milling recovery.
However, industry experts differ.
They said that hybrid rice varieties are more water-efficient and milling recovery is at par with varieties approved by Punjab state.
Rice farmers across states have reported higher yield benefits of hybrid rice and these higher income claims are based on years of scientific trials and farmers field data, said Rana.
'Hybrid rice varieties are scientifically validated and government-notified. They offer higher yields, conserve water, and reduce stubble burning,' said Rana.
'By banning these varieties, farmers are being denied the opportunity to increase their income and contribute to sustainable agriculture,' he said.
FSII has filed side-by-side milling results from Punjab Agriculture University, ICAR multi-location trials and the IRRI Grain Quality Lab. Hybrids have posted 70-72.5 per cent total milling recovery and more than 60 per cent head-rice, comfortably above Food Corporation of India norms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Govt extends deadline for Kharif crop insurance
Lucknow: The state govt has extended the last date for getting crop insurance for all the notified Kharif crops till Aug 14 for non-loanee farmers and Aug 30 for loanee farmers. Earlier, July 31 was the deadline. The insurance premium for all Kharif crops is 2% paid by the farmers, and the remaining amount is paid by the central/state govt. The agriculture department has appealed to the farmers to benefit from the scheme by getting their notified crops insured by the due date extended in the interest of farmers for crop insurance. According to a state govt spokesperson, farmers need to keep all the information/documents related to Aadhaar, farmer ID, field and crop. Aadhaar card, Khatauni, bank passbook, and details of the crop (which is to be insured) are the necessary documents for farmers to get crop insurance. Crop insurance can also be done by self-registering at a bank, common service centre, or portal Likewise, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is operated to compensate the farmers in case of pest and disease outbreak, drought, flood, storm, hailstorm, as well as unsuccessful sowing, etc. It protects farmers from crop damage. Its main objective is to keep the income of farmers stable.
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
10 judicial officers appointed as Additional Judges of Punjab and Haryana High Court
In a major boost to the judicial strength of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Central government Thursday appointed 10 judicial officers as Additional Judges of the court. The appointments were made by the President of India under Article 224 of the Constitution, following consultation with the Chief Justice of India. The newly appointed Additional Judges are: Virinder Aggarwal, Mandeep Pannu, Amarinder Singh Grewal, Parmod Goyal, Rupinderjit Chahal, Shalini Singh Nagpal, Subhash Mehla, Surya Partap Singh, Aradhna Sawhney, and Yashvir Singh Rathor. The appointments were announced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, who shared the list on social media. Under Article 224, Additional Judges are appointed for a term of two years to help manage rising caseloads and vacancies. Based on performance and requirement, they are made permanent judges later.
The Hindu
3 hours ago
- The Hindu
Centre to withdraw order granting release of film Udaipur files, Delhi HC told
The Centre on Friday (August 1, 2025) informed the Delhi High Court that it was withdrawing its decision granting nod to the release of the film Udaipur Files - Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, and will take a decision on the revision petitions 'afresh'. The court, which was hearing two pleas challenging the Centre's decision allowing the release of the movie, directed the parties to appear before the government on August 4 and make their submissions. The court was informed by the counsel for the film's producer that the movie is scheduled to be released on August 8 and they would take some time for making arrangements for releasing it by engaging the theatres. The court took on record statement by Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, representing the Central government as also the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), that the government will withdraw the earlier decision granting nod to the release of the film and 'take a decision on the revision petitions preferred by the petitioners afresh'. Noting the submissions, the court disposed of the two petitions filed by Mohammed Javed, one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case, and Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani. The Centre's counsel had said the film has undergone a two-step filter, first by the censor board, which suggested 55 cuts, and second by the committee, which further asked for six cuts, totalling 61 cuts. Javed's counsel objected to the release of the film on the ground that it would prejudice his case during the trial. Kanhaiya Lal, an Udaipur-based tailor in Rajasthan, was murdered in 2022, allegedly by Mohammad Riyaz and Mohammad Ghous, for sharing a social media post in support of former BJP leader Nupur Sharma after her controversial comments on Prophet Mohammed. The trial is pending before the special NIA court in Jaipur.
