Patiala, May 6 - Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal said that in the coming monsoon season, paddy is to be sown on a large scale by the farmers in Punjab. The university has recommended 11 varieties of parmal paddy for sowing. Among which PR 121, PR 122, PR 126, PAP 128 and PR 131 are prominent.
Premature planting of long-dwelling varieties of paddy is considered to be a major cause of falling water table in the state. Farmers have been strongly appealed by the university to plant varieties of paddy that ripen in less time so that farmers can get full yield in less time along with saving expenses and water. At the same time, Dr. Gurupdesh Kaur, in-charge, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Rauni Patiala, has also appealed to the farmers to maximize the cultivation of PR 126 variety of paddy, which is the most popular variety of the farmers.
This variety takes less time to mature than all other varieties, about 93 days after sowing and yields an average of 30 quintals per acre. He said that the farmers who want to buy paddy seeds can buy these seeds at the rate of Rs.56 per kg (24 kg packing = Rs.1350/-), from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm from Roni Farm on any day of the week.