Farmers Now Inclined Towards Early Maturing Varieties Of Rice

Ludhiana, April 29, 2016: The vulnerability of long duration varieties of rice to vagaries of weather (drought, irregular rainfall & insect-pest pattern) is driving farmers away from such varieties. The short duration varieties require lesser inputs especially water and farmers get ample time for managing the paddy straw. Further, the fields are vacated in time for the sowing of succeeding crops. In the recent past Pusa 44 variety was being grown on 30-35 percent area and there was a drastic downfall in the underground water table in the districts (Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Barnala, Moga) where it was grown. Now with the development of short duration varieties (PR 124, PR 123, PR 122, PR121), the area under these varieties have risen by 34 percent. Last year Punjab made record production of paddy at 180.0 lakh tonnes and made a record contribution of 93.50 lakh tonnes of rice to the central pool. Better quality of the newly developed varieties of rice has helped early completion of milling operations which earlier used to last till August-September. There was a 39.0 percent reduction in the incidence of paddy straw burning in the state during the last year.
Dr Rajinder Singn Sidhu, Director of Extension Education, PAU, Ludhiana has complimented the farmers for increasing the area under short duration varieties and hoped that they will continue to further increase the area in the larger interest of the state.