Last Updated: 10 Nov 2024
Invent/Promote quicker & better Seed varieties of paddy and wheat that
-- Take lesser irrigation cycles, save ground water
-- Give lesser stubble & even more yield
-- More resistant to Climate Change
IMPACT: PR-126(Short duration paddy) seed sowing in 2023-24[1]
-- SAVED Electricity worth ₹477 crore
-- SAVED 5 billion cusecs of groundwater
Ban of Environmont Unfriendly & cost intensive seeds(Pusa-44)
-- Season 2024: Pusa 44 completely banned[3]
-- Season 2023: Farmers were strongly asked NOT to sow the PUSA 44 variety, which gives more stubble & takes more water[4]
IMPACT 2024: 500% more seeds of Short Duration Paddy PR 126(Saves water & environment friendly) than 2022 were sold by PAU[5][6]
<Pros of PR 126>
-- Less Stubble mass and More time to manage stubble
-- Saves 20-25% Water: 4000 litres/kg vs 5000-6000 l/kg for Pusa-44 needed for irrigation[5:1][7]
| Year | PR-126 Crop area | Seeds Sold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Expected 44% (of non-Basmati paddy area)[8] |
59,000+ quintals (Till 10th July)[7:1] | - |
| 2023 | 11.50 Lakh Hectares[7:2]/33%[8:1] (of non-Basmati paddy area) |
48,852 quintal[7:3] | 210% Growth in Crop Area |
| 2022 | 5.59 Lakh Hectares[7:4] | - |
PR 126 vs Pusa 44
| Paddy Variety[4:1][9] | Mature time | Stubble | Water Consumption | Input Cost | Yield | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pusa 44 | 152 days | More | HIGH | More | Marginally more | Same |
| PR 126 | ~125 days[7:5] | Less | 15-25% Less | Savings on pesticides & labour | Marginally Less | Same as input cost less |
FactCheck about Millers' concern on PR-126[8:2]
References:
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/economics-of-punjabs-paddy-varieties-case-of-banned-pusa-44-and-the-promoted-pr-126-9310587/ ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pr126-variety-of-paddy-cultivation-in-punjab-raises-hope-for-reduced-farm-fires-and-pollution-in-delhi-101691435384247.html ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/punjab-bans-cultivation-and-sale-of-pusa-44-paddy-variety/articleshow/109930535.cms ↩︎
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/pusa-44-paddy-variety-to-be-banned-from-next-kharif-season-punjab-cm-bhagwant-mann-550104 ↩︎ ↩︎
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/111417373.cms ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/shortduration-paddy-variety-pr-126-in-high-demand-being-sold-at-a-premium-101651519592455.html ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/increase-in-cultivation-of-short-duration-paddy-variety-pr-126-expected-in-punjab/articleshow/111673597.cms ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/how-paddy-variety-pr-126-became-a-victim-of-its-own-popularity-9625697/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/shortduration-paddy-variety-pr-126-in-high-demand-being-sold-at-a-premium-101651519592455.html ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/ludhiana-pau-recommends-pbw-826-wheat-ol-16-oats-for-general-cultivation-in-punjab-101662140273037.html ↩︎
