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Time of India
20-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
High court reserves order on Punjab's ban on hybrid paddy seeds
Bathinda: With less than two weeks left to transplanting paddy in Punjab, a bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday reserved its order over a petition challenging a ban on hybrid seeds of paddy. The arguments had been closed, but the court did not fix a date for pronouncing the order. The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) challenged Punjab govt's decision to ban hybrid paddy seeds in 2019. This decision was later amended, but the Punjab agriculture department again banned the cultivation of Pusa-44 and hybrid varieties on April 7 this year, aiming to safeguard groundwater from depletion and tackle pollution. Another petition was filed in the court over the matter recently, and it was clubbed with the 2019 petition. Rice millers were against the cultivation of hybrid varieties, claiming they produced more broken rice. Certain farmers and FSII were of the view that hybrid varieties use less water and produce more paddy. During the last hearing on May 13, Punjab Rice Millers' Association president Tarsem Saini was impleaded as a respondent in the petition. FSII chairman Ajai Rana said as the court had reserved its verdict on the Punjab govt's decision to ban hybrid rice, the seed industry was hopeful of a balanced outcome that recognised the role of science and innovation in agriculture. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나이들어 노안+백내장 절대 방치 하지 마세요! 부산백내장노안 전문안과 더 알아보기 Undo "Hybrid rice is a proven solution to meet the dual challenge of increasing productivity and conserving natural resources. It offers 5–6 quintals more yield per acre, short-duration varieties mature faster, and supports direct seeding of rice method, which reduces water use by 30% and lowers emissions. These hybrids are also bred for better tolerance to abiotic stress and resistance to major pests, helping farmers manage risks more effectively," he said. All hybrids in the market have undergone rigorous three-year trials under ICAR's All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project and comply with national standards, including the 67% out-turn ratio mandated by FCI, he added. Saini said the quality of rice from hybrid varieties was below the standard, with the broken ratio being much higher. He said they wanted hybrid varieties of rice to be milled under the supervision of a state-level monitoring committee. The federation also approached the authorities in Punjab and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, urging them to reconsider their decision to ban the cultivation of hybrid rice in the state. Paddy, including basmati, is transplanted on nearly 32 lakh hectares in Punjab, and there are varied figures for hybrid varieties, with Punjab Agriculture University pegging hybrid varieties at only 5-6% of the total area under paddy. Millers claimed they were not getting the required 67% head rice from hybrid varieties, as more broken rice was produced from these varieties. Out of 67kg rice to be delivered to FCI after custom milling, 25% broken is allowed, but in these varieties, it was turning out at more than 35%. After milling (de-husking and polishing, turning brown rice into white rice), there was also the issue of chalkiness due to incomplete starch and protein accumulation. The federation stated that on an average, hybrid rice delivered 15%-20% higher yield over other varieties, translating to Rs 8,000 - 10,000/acre incremental income opportunity for Punjab rice farmers. Due to the shorter crop cycle of 120-125 days (seed to grain), hybrid rice saves 20-25% groundwater and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Why paddy sowing in Punjab depends on a court order this time, and the road ahead
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.
