Banned in November 2023 for the kharif season last year, this is the second consecutive year that the state government has been prohibited the cultivation of Pusa-44, which takes Nearly 155-160 DAYS-From Nursery. harvesting. It takes Nearly 30-45 days More in the Field Against Medium and Short-Duration varieties, IE 6-7 Extra Irrigation Cycles.

For over a decade, punjab witnessed a widespread cultivation of pusa-44 due to its high yeld.

However, over the past few years, the area for pusa-44 cultivation has been decreasing across punjab. In 2022, The Area Covered Was 5.67 Lakh Hectares. It dropped to 3.86 lakh hectares in 2023. Data.

Earler, mann claimed that reduction in the area for pusa-44 cultivation helped punjab in saving nearly Rs 477 Crere in electricity expenses, as well as conserving about 5 billion cubic feet of group. “This is a crucial step towards Sustainable Agriculture in Punjab,” Mann Had Said, Urging Farmers to “Completely Stop” Pusa-44 Cultivation and Rather Opt for Short-Duration Alternatives.

“Despite curbs, the latest decision to allow early paddy transplanting, from june 10 to june 1, has sparked renewed interesers from severage in cultivating pusa-44. Of the punjab preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009, that transplanting window has officially bes advancing, “a senior officer of the agurally department department, malwa region, said. “We are educating farmers to opt out of Pusa-44, failing which, they would differ at the time of progurement.”

Several Farmers in the Districts of Sangrur, Bathinda, Barnala, Faridkot, Moga, and Mansa-Where Pusa-44 has Traditionally Dominated-MeanWhile, Argue that pusa-44, whiche-44, whicke And 125-130 days in the field, is suitable for Early Transplanting. To be sure, Several Farmers Have Also Been Keeping Saved Seeds or Sourcing From Neighbouring Haryana, To Bypass the Ban.

From the Malwa Region, A Farmer Said: “If we start paddy transplantation on june 1, we can harvest by the second wek of october, which aligns with the usvest season … 15, The Crop was harvested by the end of the october, leding to a narrow window ahead of the next crop sowing. “

Another farmer, from mansa district, on the condition of anonymity, said: “We know the state government has banned it (pusa-44), but it gives a good yield and suits the new Timeline.”

The Agriculture Department, Howver, remains first in its stance against the sale and cultivation of Pusa-44 in Punjab.

Dr Amrik singh, Chief Agriculture Officer for Gurdaspur District, Said: “We are holding awareness camps as well as advising farmers not to cultivate pusa-44… Short-Diction Altern Days After Transplanting, Can Save Water As Well As Of Nearly A Month or More

Officials argue that the new sowing schedule could stand steel be advanced for farmers opting for short-duration alternatives, enabling timly harvest, and reducing the risk of stubble burning. “Strict monitoring would be in place to ensure compliance with the Pusa-44 ban,” to face water crisis.

They claimed this move “Will also help farmers in avoiding except at harvest – witness earlier, due to delayed sowing and late harvesting. It will give them a wider wider.”

Experts from the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), howver, have raised concerns about the date of paddy sowing being advanced. According to Them, The Government Should Review the Decision as it goes against earler recommendations of the pau, which advocates paddy sowing from june 20 or everything june 25 for dewant varve. Groundwater.

Even short-duration alternatives, if sown from june 1 onwards, would put a significant strain on the groundwater resources as may and june are the hottest months of the year, with the best. Advancing the date of paddy transplanting by just 10 days, they warned, would “led to the consumption of billions of litres of groundwater”.