Faridkot
While the millers are claiming that the out turn ratio of PR 126 is about 5 kg or so less than the fixed 67 percent and are refusing to accept it, Dr Amrik Singh, chief agriculture officer Faridkot said that this is a non issue.
When contacted, He said that PR 126 was developed by Punjab Agriculture University in 2017 and has been passed by after thorough testing..
“The variety first goes to the approval committee before the farmers and there is a specific criteria to pass it.It is tested at many levels and trials at PAU, research centers and at farmers' fields are there. The PAU has tested it twice, even once with the FCI and its recovery is 67 per cent which is required. Even it has been sown for the past many years and there was no issue then,” he said.
According to him, even 50 per cent of the total area is expected to be under PR 126.
The farmers preferred it because of its potentially higher yield, only one spray to protect it from insects while on others three-four sprays are done and saving water. Apart from it, it also gave the farmers a chance of growing moong for pulses and green manure and maize from for animal fodder. It was also an alternative for the adjustment of paddy transplantation and saved farmers from labour and other resource shortages.
Last year, PR 126 was a boon for the farmers after the flood situation in July devastated their paddy crops and they had to re-transplant the paddy.
“There are many reasons behind it. Some millers who were new in the business got the produce unloaded directly into the mills which might have high moisture content. Then when paddy is procured, its moisture is expected to be about 17 per cent but later on, due to hot weather, its further goes down. It leads to a loss to the millers,” claimed a source wishing not to be quoted.
PR 126 was even promoted by Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to save the sub soil water.
However, the millers through the ahartias had warned the farmers not to sow PR 126 and other hybrid varieties, but the government had assured the farmers that each grain of it would be procured.