PAU asks farmers to use early maturing rice varieties and adopt DSR technique

Experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, have urged farmers to buy quality and enhanced seed from testing stations, seed farms, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and farm advisory support centers in their respective districts, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. They also emphasized sowing early maturing rice varieties and using the "tar-wattar direct seeded rice (DSR) technique" during the PAU live program last week.

Farmers can sow early maturing, high yielding varieties, such as ‘PR' strains, which use less water and produce a higher yield, according to rice expert Buta Singh Dhillon. He urged farmers to follow PAU advice for weed control and iron and zinc deficiency when it came to nursery growing techniques. Farmers could read the PAU bundle of activities or consult university experts on a regular basis, he advised.

Makhan Singh Bhullar, head of the department of agronomy at PAU College of Agriculture, explained the "tar-wattar direct seeded rice (DSR) technique," saying it contributes to effective weed control and eliminates iron deficiency. “The university has published (in Punjabi) literature on this technology, with an emphasis on Dos and Don'ts. It will be written in both English and Hindi,” he said.

Farmers can buy quality seed of Punjab Basmati 7 (4 kg for Rs 300), PR 129, PR 128, PR 127, PR 126, PR 124, PR 122, PR 121, PR 114, and HKR 47 (8 kg for Rs 350 and 24 kg for Rs 1,050); Pusa Basmati 1121 and Pusa Basmati 1509 (8 kg for Rs 500 and 24 kg for Rs 1,500), according to Ravinder Bahlooria.

Weather Update:

In most areas of northwest India, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted no major change in maximum temperature over the next 48 hours. During the next three days, temperatures are expected to gradually drop by 2-4 degrees Celsius. Thunderstorms with lightning, hail, and gusty winds (up to 30-40 km per hour) are expected in isolated areas of Punjab and Haryana on May 12 and 13.