The state has decided to outlaw the production of the PUSA-44 paddy type, effective with the upcoming farming season, according to the Punjab Chief Minister. This action has sparked debate concerning the reasons behind the prohibition of such a well-liked paddy type and the potential effects on the state’s agriculture.
About PUSA-44
- Origin: PUSA-44 was created in 1993 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and progressively gained traction among farmers in Punjab.
- Quick Adoption: Punjab’s farmers began farming it more extensively because of its excellent yield, and today it makes up 70–80% of the region planted to paddy.
Yield Comparison
- High production: PUSA-44 is preferred by farmers due to its remarkable production, which is approximately 85 to 100 quintals per acre as opposed to the 28 to 30 quintals produced by other types.
- Economic Advantage: The higher yield results in better income, with possible earnings above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 15,000 to 22,000 per acre.
Reasons for Ban
- Long Maturity Period: PUSA-44 takes a long time to mature—about 160 days—far longer than other cultivars. This means that 5–6 extra watering cycles are needed.
- Groundwater Depletion: Punjab is experiencing significant groundwater depletion. In an effort to save water resources, the government has banned PUSA-44 in an area that is becoming more and more covered with paddy.
- Stubble Burning: The problem of stubble burning is made worse by PUSA-44’s prolonged maturity stage. Because there is not much time between harvest and wheat sowing, managing stubble becomes difficult, which increases the number of stubble burning events.
- Air Pollution: Burning stubble during the winter months in North India causes serious air pollution that has an adverse effect on public health.
Impact of PUSA-44 on Stubble Burning
- Timing of Harvest: PUSA-44 is harvested shortly before wheat is sown, providing a small window of time for removing stubble.
- Stubble Quantity: PUSA-44 exacerbates the issue of stubble burning by producing about 2 percent more stubble than shorter-duration cultivars.
- High-Incidence Districts: During the PUSA-44 harvest, there are more stubble-burning events in a number of Punjabi districts, including Barnala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Moga, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Muktsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, and Mansa.
Stubble Burning Statistics
- Fire Incidents: Due to the PUSA-44 crop, there was a high frequency of stubble fire in a number of districts in 2022.
- Persistence: Stubble burning usually started during the PUSA-44 harvest in the third week of October and went on until November 25.
