Latest news with #PR126
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Paddy sowing kicks off in five districts of Punjab's Malwa belt
Paddy sowing began in five districts of Punjab's Malwa belt --Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar and Fazilka -- on Sunday, June 1, in keeping with the early schedule for transplantation notified by the state government last week. Though agriculture department officials could not readily provide data on how much area was covered on the first day, an official said that 'farmers are enthusiastic about the early schedule'. The crop, this season, is expected to be grown over more than 31 lakh hectares (76 lakh acres). The water guzzling crop has seen an increase in area by 2 lakh hectares in the last three years. In March, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, has sent recommendations to the state government for starting transplantation in Muktsar, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda, Ferozepur, and Fazilka from June 20. As per the advisory, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Roopnagar, SAS Nagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts were to start from June 23 and Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, SBS Nagar, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur and Barnala were to start from June 26. This was suggested to conserve subsoil water which is fast depleting, especially given the weather conditions in June. However, to appease the farmers, the transplantation schedule was pushed back. The state decided to allow transplantation in Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar and Fazilka from June 1, in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur from June 5 and in Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar from June 9. Direct seeding of rice (DSR) is permitted statewide from May 15 to 31 but the government has not received very encouraging results for this method. Contrary to the state agriculture department's observation that there is enthusiasm among farmers for early sowing, the PAU has said that farmers have understood the benefits of late sowing of paddy. 'There are short-duration varieties developed by PAU available and the start of transplantation of paddy coinciding with the start of monsoon is a best practice for better quality and crop,' varsity officials said. Officials in the state agriculture department said many farmers still prefer the cultivation of the long-duration, water-guzzling PUSA 44 and PR 126 varieties, despite bans and advisories against their use. PUSA44 gives higher yield out turn ratio (OTR) and is preferred by the rice millers.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Paddy sowing from June 1: Punjab farmers opting for water-guzzling varieties a big worry
Chandigarh : Punjab is set to commence paddy transplantation from June 1, despite warnings from agricultural experts about the ecological risks involved and ongoing issues related to banned crop varieties. Officials in the state agriculture department have said many farmers still continue to prefer the cultivation of the long-duration, water-guzzling PUSA 44 and PR 126 varieties, despite bans and advisories against their use. According to people privy of the matter, the government lacks effective mechanisms to monitor or prevent the cultivation of these banned varieties once sowing begins, raising concerns about the sustainability of Punjab's water resources. Punjab's decision to advance the paddy transplantation date —originally delayed to conserve groundwater — has faced strong criticism from agricultural scientists and environmentalists. Despite petitions filed with the National Green Tribunal, the state government issued a notification allowing staggered transplantation beginning June 1. According to the notification, transplantation will start on June 1 in Faridkot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Muktsar and Fazilka; from June 5 in Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Hoshiarpur; and from June 9 in Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar. Direct seeding of rice (DSR) is permitted statewide from May 15 to 31. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) former vice-chancellor BS Dhillon condemned the decision, stating: 'Shifting the transplantation date back to June 1 undermines years of effort since 2009 to conserve Punjab's groundwater and pushes the state towards ecological disaster.' Controversy over PUSA 44, PR 126 With the announcement of early sowing, farmers in the state are preferring long-duration water-guzzling PUSA44 which gives the highest rice outturn ratio (OTR) against the short-duration varieties. However, it produces higher crop residue about 15-20% more raising hackles of experts who warned that it might lead to a spurt in farm fires. Though Punjab has banned the variety which has been discontinued by its producer Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), farmers are purchasing seeds from Haryana and Rajasthan. 'The long duration variety of 150 days is suffering varietal fatigue and needs 20% more water for irrigation,' said Gurdev Singh Khush, World Food Prize laureate and eminent rice-breeder fondly known as 'father of rice revolution'. 'We are making efforts that farmers do not cultivate PUSA 44 and also avoid PR 126 which caused problems to the farmers at time of selling the produce during the last season,' said a senior officer in the state agriculture department. The sale of seeds has been banned but there is no mechanism to stop cultivation of banned varieties, he added. A senior agriculture official from Ludhiana said, 'The decision to allow early transplantation appears to appease farmers and rice millers lobbying for higher OTR through PUSA 44. The PAU has alternative short-duration varieties like PR 131 and PR 132, but enforcement of bans on PUSA 44 remains weak.' PAU vice-chancellor Dr SS Gosal said that 22,000 quintals of short-duration paddy seeds have been sold, enough to cover at least 3 lakh acres. He also advised that late transplantation —up to mid-July — could achieve better results while conserving water. Punjab's water crisis Punjab faces a severe groundwater crisis, with an annual decline of nearly one metre. The state's 14.5 lakh irrigation tubewells are critical for crop survival during dry pre-monsoon months. The government's earlier delay in paddy transplantation was meant to coincide with the monsoon onset in July, reducing water demand during the hottest months when evaporation rates and irrigation needs rise by 10-15%. The National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee, has warned that continued groundwater depletion could render Punjab a desert in the near future. Despite these challenges, paddy cultivation covers over 30 lakh hectares annually in Punjab, driven by assured procurement under the minimum support price (MSP), which is set at ₹2,320 per quintal for 2024. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann defended the early transplantation policy, stating it would ensure better-quality crops with lower moisture levels reach mandis, minimising rejection and farmer losses. He said the availability of short-duration varieties and assured farmers that hybrid seeds would not be allowed. Mann also noted that full canals would support irrigation, reducing dependence on groundwater.
Indian Express
20-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Pusa-44 banned in Punjab to save groundwater, but ground reality shows its unabated flow from Haryana
Despite the ban by the Punjab government on Pusa-44, the longest-duration paddy variety, farmers in Punjab are still obtaining its seeds from Haryana. The government in April banned the sale of Pusa-44, which significantly burdens Punjab's groundwater, as well as hybrid paddy varieties, which offer yields comparable to, or even higher than, Pusa-44 in just four months. Ranjit Singh, a farmer from Patiala, said he has planted a nursery of the paddy variety Pusa-44 this season despite the ban. 'We know it is not allowed, but our livelihood depends on it. The yield is 5–6 quintals higher than that of the short-duration varieties, and millers happily take this variety. What else can we do?' he asked. Ranjit said he procured the seeds from Karnal in Haryana through known contacts. 'There are farmers there who grow the seed for us. It is sold openly since it is not banned there. If you know someone, you can get it. You just have to avoid getting caught when bringing it into Punjab, where it is banned.' Ranjit said he used to grow hybrid seeds from various companies, but could not get them from Haryana because several dealers were selling full kits that included seed and multiple costly sprays. 'The kits were expensive, so I decided to go with PUSA-44, which offers nearly the same yield. Its seed is much cheaper in comparison. I bought Pusa-44 seed at Rs 120 per kg, and for one acre, I need about Rs 480 worth of seed. My nursery is now 10 days old, and I plan to transplant it into the field by June 8 or 9.' Another farmer, Major Singh from Ludhiana, said he also procured Pusa-44 seed from a grower in Haryana, as most dealers in Punjab are not selling it. 'Those who do, they sell it only provide it to people they know well,' he added. Farmers like Jatinder Singh from Sangrur, Jeet Singh from Barnala, and several others echoed similar sentiments, citing high yield, strong grain quality, and preference from millers as key reasons for continuing with Pusa-44 despite the ban. Despite environmental concerns and a formal ban, a steady flow of the variety continues to enter the state. Farmers, seed sellers, and agricultural experts all paint a picture of a policy quietly being defied on the ground. Pusa-44, a high-yielding, long-duration paddy variety released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute in 1993, was once extensively grown across Punjab. Its popularity was driven by yields of 32–36 quintals per acre and strong demand from rice millers. However, its long maturity period of over 155 days requires seven to eight more irrigation cycles than short-duration varieties. This leads to a huge burden on groundwater, delays harvesting, narrows the window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing, and contributes significantly to stubble burning — a major factor in North India's worsening air pollution. To address this, the Punjab government banned Pusa-44 cultivation in November 2023 and promoted short-duration, water-efficient alternatives like PR 126 and PR 121. But enforcing the ban has proven to be a major challenge. Hard to trace paddy flow from Haryana: Officials Many wholesalers and retailers continue to prepare and sell paddy seed in the Karnal district of Haryana, a known seed hub. Sellers there admitted that Pusa-44 seeds are still sold over the counter. 'We don't advertise it, but farmers, especially from Punjab, know about it. They are willing to pay a premium. Some local farmers even grow the seed specifically for them,' Balwinder Singh, a seed producer. Another seller added that private growers are filling the gap while large companies have officially stopped producing Pusa-44. 'It is not hard to find. Farmers from Punjab often visit during the off-season, collect small quantities, and distribute them informally.' While some seeds are packed in labelled bags, farmers often request plain packaging to avoid regulatory scrutiny in Punjab, they said. Officials from the Punjab Agriculture Department admitted that enforcement of the ban remains inconsistent. 'Our teams conduct regular inspections, but tracking informal seed networks is difficult. When seeds are exchanged between farmers or brought in from Haryana in small quantities, it is hard to trace,' said an official in Chandigarh. They also acknowledged that the issue goes beyond enforcement. 'As long as market economics favour Pusa-44, farmers will continue finding ways to cultivate it.' A senior agricultural economist from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, emphasised the need for a deeper, more practical solution. 'If farmers prefer hybrid paddy varieties due to better returns, they should be allowed to grow all recommended hybrids. At the end of the day, it is an economic decision. Farmers are doing the math, and when they are getting free power for irrigation of longer duration varieties with high yield, why wouldn't they go for higher-yielding varieties?' He added that if millers are concerned about hybrids giving lower outturn (processing yield), the government should step in — either by offering incentives to millers or by adjusting the acceptable outturn percentage. 'While the short-term benefits of growing Pusa-44 are clear to farmers, the long-term environmental costs — stubble burning, excessive water use, and worsening air quality — threaten Punjab's agricultural sustainability. Until policies better reflect on-ground realities and economic drivers, farmers will continue to turn to banned seeds for better harvests,' another expert from the Punjab Agriculture Department said on the condition of anonymity.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
New rice strain sets benchmark for yield, efficiency: PAU
Amid the paddy sowing season, experts at Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU) have flagged the popularity and acceptance of rice variety PR 126 among Punjab farmers. PAU experts noted that 43% of the state's rice area was covered with cultivation of PR 126 in 2024. Developed by PAU and released in 2017, PR 126 addresses major challenges like falling water tables, pest management, and milling quality demands. This variety requires significantly less water and produces lower straw load compared to traditional varieties. Its short duration—maturing in 93 days—enables farmers to save 3-4 weeks in the crop cycle, providing a wider window for wheat sowing. The variety's early maturity also helps it avoid major pest and disease attacks, reducing production costs and improving profitability. A survey conducted during the 2024 Kharif season revealed yields ranging from 25 to 37.2 quintals per acre. Higher yields, between 29 and 37.2 quintals, were recorded when farmers adhered to PAU's recommended practices: nursery sowing in late May to early June and transplanting 25-30 day-old seedlings from late June to mid-July. Transplanting beyond mid-July, especially after summer maize, led to reduced yield, increased grain moisture, and poor milling quality. PAU trials confirm that transplanting seedlings older than 30 days causes a significant yield drop—up to 18.9% for 45-day-old seedlings. Quality parameters for procurement, as defined by the Food Corporation of India (FCI), include grain moisture below 17%, low admixture, and minimal damaged grains. PR 126 consistently meets these standards. Experts emphasise that transplanting PR 126 beyond July 15 is inadvisable due to the risk of lower yield and compromised grain quality. Adherence to PAU's guidelines on seedling age and transplanting timing remains crucial for maximizing the variety's potential.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Agri dept intensifies vigil to stop sale of banned paddy hybrid seeds in markets
With the paddy sowing season underway, the agriculture department in Ludhiana has intensified efforts to ensure that banned hybrid seeds are not sold in the district's seed markets. The crackdown follows last year's controversy when a purported hybrid of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)'s PR 126 was sold to farmers at inflated prices, leading to significant losses. Though originally priced at around ₹150 per kg, the seeds were allegedly sold for as high as ₹3,600 per kg. The hybrid was later blamed for high breakage percentages in rice grains, drawing concerns from millers and causing delays in crop procurement from mandis. 'This year, we've been proactively monitoring seed sales for over a month,' said district agriculture officer Gurdeep Singh. 'These hybrids were first banned, and we've since been conducting frequent inspections and directing dealers not to stock or sell them. Even the joint director of agriculture visited Jagraon and Samrala to supervise enforcement.' He confirmed that, so far no banned hybrid seeds have been recovered from the inspections. Any violations, he warned, would invite strict action under the Seed Act of 1983.. Meanwhile, as sale of hybrid seeds are curbed, the demand for genuine PAU-certified seeds has seen a boost. Last year, around 20,400 quintals of authentic seeds were sold. This year, sales have already reached 23,700 quintals, with over a week still remaining in the current sales window. Regarding the paddy transplant schedule, Singh said the state has been divided into three zones. 'Transplantation in Ludhiana—part of Zone 3—will begin from June 9, after areas with better groundwater levels begin on June 1 and 5, respectively,' he said.
