PUNJAB’s PADDY VARIETIES: PUSA-44 AND PR-126

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TAG: GS 3: AGRICULTURE

THE CONTEXT: The decision by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab to ban the cultivation of the long-duration Pusa-44 paddy variety and promote the adoption of shorter-duration varieties like PR-126 reflects the complex interplay between agricultural economics, environmental concerns, and governmental policy.

EXPLANATION:

• Punjab faces a severe groundwater crisis, exacerbated by the extensive cultivation of water-intensive crops like paddy.
• The government recognizes the urgent need for diversification away from such crops to alleviate pressure on groundwater resources.
• Agriculture scientists and economists advocate reducing the paddy area by at least 10 lakh hectares to address this crisis effectively.

Pusa-44 vs. PR-126

• Farmers express reluctance towards abandoning Pusa-44 due to its higher yield potential compared to PR-126.
• However, agronomists argued that despite PR-126’s lower yield, it offers better economic returns due to significantly lower input costs.
• The higher input costs associated with Pusa-44 include expenses on irrigation, fertilizers, labor, and other inputs, resulting in a 29.6% higher input cost per acre.
• While Pusa-44 boasts higher yields, it comes with hidden costs that farmers often overlook.
• The extended cultivation period necessitates longer hours of tractor operation and tubewell usage, leading to increased wear and tear of machinery and depletion of water resources.
• Additionally, the narrow window for wheat cultivation after Pusa-44 harvests poses challenges for stubble management, contributing to air pollution through stubble burning.

Environmental and Sustainability Concerns

• The promotion of PR-126 aligns with broader environmental and sustainability goals.
• Its shorter cultivation period and lower water requirements offer a more sustainable approach to farming, mitigating the strain on groundwater resources and reducing environmental degradation associated with intensive agricultural practices.

Government Intervention and Policy Implications

• The Punjab government’s decision to ban Pusa-44 reflects a proactive stance towards addressing the water crisis and promoting sustainable agriculture.
• However, the effectiveness of such policies depends on farmers’ willingness to adopt alternative varieties and the availability of support mechanisms to facilitate transition and mitigate economic risks.

PUSA-44:

• PUSA-44 was developed in 1993 by the Delhi-based Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Punjab’s farmers started increasing the area under PUSA-44 by multiplying the seed, after getting a high yield from the crops.
• By the end of 2010, it had gained widespread popularity among farmers across the Punjab, covering approximately 70 to 80% of the area under paddy cultivation.
• However, the Agriculture Department and Punjab Agricultural University have never promoted it from the beginning and discouraged farmers due to declining groundwater levels.
• By 2018, the Punjab government reduced the area under PUSA-44 to 18 per cent of the total area under paddy, but it rebounded to 22 per cent last year.
• According to the Agriculture Department, in the previous year, 7.74 lakh hectares (19.12 lakh acres) of paddy were under Pusa-44, out of a total non-Basmati paddy area of 26.61 lakh hectares.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION KINDLY REFER TO THE 7^TH OCTOBER DNA 2023.

SOURCE: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/economics-of-punjabs-paddy-varieties-case-of-banned-pusa-44-and-the-promoted-pr-126-9310587/