Mass awareness camps being held in villages to discourage farmers from sowing long duration paddy variety - PUSA-44

Ludhiana, May 3, 2024: To discourage the farmers from sowing the long duration paddy variety PUSA-44, mass awareness camps are being organised in various villages of the district by district administration. 

Working on the directions of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney, the awareness camps were organised in different villages falling under Jagraon, Dehlon, Pakhowal, Khanna, Doraha etc recently. 

In total, 27 awareness camps were organised in village Manuke, Dhatt, Kular, Hathur, Lakha, Sangowal, Alamgir, Jandiali, Pamal, Ghawaddi, Gosal, Tibba, Jarg, Leel, Talwandi Kalan, Bhundri, Rampur, among others.
   
The officials stated that the PUSA-44 is a long duration variety of paddy, cause excess stubble production, and the fact that require more water than other varieties. Long duration varieties consume 15-20 % more water than PR varieties, have more straw load and are susceptible to all the prevalent pathotypes of Bacterial Blight in state. Due to severe outbreak of insect-pests and diseases, the PUSA-44 variety demand at least two extra sprays of pesticides thereby lowering the net profit of farmers.  

Earlier Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney had also directed Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and officials of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department to discourage the farmers from sowing PUSA-44 variety of paddy. Rather, the farmers should be encouraged to sow short-duration PR-131, PR-130, PR-129, PR 128, PR-127, PR 126, PR-122, PR-121, PR-114, PR-113 varieties and discourage the PUSA-44 variety among the farmers.

If anyone has any query, they should contact Agriculture Development Officer at 99155-41728.

DC Sawhney said that the SDMs, the Agriculture Department, and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) have also been directed to hold meetings with farmers in this regard as it is the time when they purchase seed for the next paddy crop. Further, they have also been asked to spread awareness about features of PAU recommended varieties.

SDMs have also been conducting meetings with rice sheller owners wherein sheller owners are being appealed to encourage the farmers to sow the short-duration paddy varieties which have been recommended by the PAU and agriculture department. The rice sheller owners are also being asked to discourage the farmers from sowing PUSA-44 paddy variety.

DC Sawhney said that the administration, agriculture department and PAU will continue holding the awareness camps in villages, as the short-duration varieties are also beneficial for the farmers.