Scientists,millers lock horns over paddy variety PAU 201

Singh adds,“However in case of PAU 201 which has been recommended by both the PAU and the state government the breakage is very high. The government pays us for just 3% breakage while in case of PAU 201 the breakage is as high as 10%-12%. We can not afford so much loss and thus we will not let the government bring this variety to us for milling.”

It has also been learnt that the millers’ association had a meeting recently with the government officials in which they demanded that the state release an advisory for the farmers not to sow this variety. “The government has not heeded to our demand and hence we were forced to take this step,” added Ajmer Singh.

Meanwhile,in a press statement released by PAU,Dr P S Minhas,Director,Research,said,“This variety is a boon for Punjab as it matures two weeks earlier than PUSA 44,uses less water and is resistant to white backed plant hopper.” Rice experts further claim that this variety was released after multi-location testing in different agro-climatic zones of Punjab. The yield of this variety is 1.5 times higher than of other commercial varieties.

Notable here is that even last year,the procurement of this variety faced a lot of problem when there were no buyers for this variety. And it was only after intervention of the government that procurement of this variety took place.

Commenting on this,Ajmer Singh remarked,“The state government is only concerned about the farmers but not about us. So we do not have choice but boycott milling of this variety.”