punjab: Demand Surge Leads To ‘short Supply’ Of Cm-advised Pr 126 | Chandigarh News
Bathinda: The recommendation of chief minister Bhagwant Mann has skyrocketed the demand for PR (Punjab Rice) 126 variety of paddy to a level where complaints of its short supply and black marketing are coming in.
This shortest variety matures in 120 days, which includes 25 to 28 days of making nursery for plantation. The official rate is Rs 43.75 a kilogram and the seed comes in packings of 8 and 24 kg. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recommends using 8-kg seed in each acre but the normal usage is 6 kg. Unable to find the variety at the government institutes, PAU, research stations, and primary agricultural co-operative societies, the farmers claim that only private traders have it and they are selling it for an inflated price.
Confronted, Punjab agriculture and farmer welfare department director Gurvinder Singh claimed that the reports of short supply were concerning but false. Assuring the farmers that they will get the seed, he asked them not to panic. The department has formed flying squads to catch the hoarders and black marketeers. A Punseed tempo delivers seed to the farmers in Faridkot, while a dealer has been booked in Moga.
For best yield, PAU additional director research (crop improvement) and principal rice breeder Gurjit Singh Mangat recommended transplanting this variety after June 20. The PAU recommends only 30% seed replacement every year, and asks farmers to retain up to 70% seed for three years, telling them that they can produce 24 quintals out of each acre, which is 3 quintal out of each channel and 15 kg out of every marla (30 square yard space), sufficient for transplanting over 2 acres.
The university has produced and sold off 2,500 quintals of this seed. It recommends a 20×15 transplanting formula, which is about keeping a 20-centimeter space between rows and 15 cm between plants.
This shortest variety matures in 120 days, which includes 25 to 28 days of making nursery for plantation. The official rate is Rs 43.75 a kilogram and the seed comes in packings of 8 and 24 kg. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recommends using 8-kg seed in each acre but the normal usage is 6 kg. Unable to find the variety at the government institutes, PAU, research stations, and primary agricultural co-operative societies, the farmers claim that only private traders have it and they are selling it for an inflated price.
Confronted, Punjab agriculture and farmer welfare department director Gurvinder Singh claimed that the reports of short supply were concerning but false. Assuring the farmers that they will get the seed, he asked them not to panic. The department has formed flying squads to catch the hoarders and black marketeers. A Punseed tempo delivers seed to the farmers in Faridkot, while a dealer has been booked in Moga.
For best yield, PAU additional director research (crop improvement) and principal rice breeder Gurjit Singh Mangat recommended transplanting this variety after June 20. The PAU recommends only 30% seed replacement every year, and asks farmers to retain up to 70% seed for three years, telling them that they can produce 24 quintals out of each acre, which is 3 quintal out of each channel and 15 kg out of every marla (30 square yard space), sufficient for transplanting over 2 acres.
The university has produced and sold off 2,500 quintals of this seed. It recommends a 20×15 transplanting formula, which is about keeping a 20-centimeter space between rows and 15 cm between plants.
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