Millers refuse to lift PAU-201 paddy

The state machinery has been aggressively promoting this variety among the farmers,for it consumes less water as compared to the traditional paddy varieties grown in the state. With its maturing time also being shorter,the sowing of this variety can be delayed till June 15,which in turn helps conserve the water table. Experts opine that this variety also scores high on the nutritional value.

PAU V-C Dr Manjit Singh Kang has rooted for this variety and so has Agriculture Director Balwinder Singh Sidhu. The variety is grown on around four lakh hectares in the state.

Procurement agencies are,however,shying away from this variety for it is slightly discoloured and at the same time the breakage in this variety is higher.

Malkiat Singh,a farmer from Bhaghapurana,said: “I have sown this variety on about five acres and the yield is also higher than other varieties. However,no one is ready to buy it. I had forced my family to opt for this variety so that we could help conserve water. They have now refused to sow PAU-201 again.”

Sudarshan Verma,general secretary of the Punjab Rice Millers’ Association,said: “We are not at fault. Before the sowing season,we had a series of meetings with the agriculture department. We had told them about the problems that we face while milling this variety.”

Verma added: “Despite our protests,PAU has been recommending this variety and even selling the seed at the farm fairs. Why will anybody buy our produce which is discoloured and where the breakage percentage is higher? We have told the agencies that we will not mill this variety and hence they need not procure it.”