Punjab stops the sale of some rice seeds!
The Punjab government has stopped the sale of two rice seeds: Pusa-44 (a non-basmati variety) and hybrid rice seeds. They say these seeds are expensive and cause more rice to break during processing, which makes farmers lose money.
But many farmers and experts say the seeds are not the problem. They believe rice breaks because it is not stored or handled properly after harvest.
Which seeds are banned and why?
Pusa-44 is a rice seed made by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. It gives farmers a large amount of rice, but it needs a lot of water and time to grow. It also leaves behind more stubble, which farmers burn. This creates a lot of air pollution.
Many farmers agree that Pusa-44 should be banned because it harms the environment and is not good for their income.
But farmers do not want to ban hybrid seeds. These are made by mixing two different rice types. They grow faster, need less water, and make less stubble. They also give farmers more rice.
Why do farmers in Punjab grow so much rice?
Rice needs a humid climate and lots of water. But Punjab is a dry place with low annual rainfall. Only about 30% of the land in Punjab is good for growing rice. Still, over 60% of the land is used for it.
In the past, farmers grew many crops like wheat, maize, cotton, and sugarcane. But in the last 20 years, the government has helped mostly rice and wheat farmers by giving them a fixed price. So now, most farmers only grow these two crops.
That’s why the kind of rice seed they use is very important.
What should Punjab do now?
Experts say Punjab should not ban seeds that the central government has already approved. Instead, they should help farmers get good hybrid seeds at low prices.
A ban is not the answer. Even if these seeds are banned, farmers may still find other ways to buy them. Punjab needs a better and long-term plan to fix the problems in rice farming.
