Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
Punjab CM Mann urges farmers to abandon water-guzzling Pusa 44 paddy, promotes water-saving 'PR' varieties at Kisan Milni
Babushahi Bureau
Ludhiana (Punjab), April 12, 2025: In a major push to combat Punjab’s escalating water crisis, Chief Minister Sardar Bhagwant Singh Mann urged farmers to stop cultivating the water-intensive Pusa 44 paddy variety and instead adopt water-efficient 'PR' varieties developed by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).
The appeal came during the third Punjab Sarkar – Kisan Milni held at PAU, Ludhiana, aimed at raising awareness of sustainable agriculture and groundwater conservation.
Addressing farmers and officials, CM Mann revealed alarming statistics: “One kilogram of rice consumes around 4,000 liters of water. Pusa 44 takes 153 days to mature and requires 64 lakh liters of water per acre,” he said. This variety not only consumes excess water but also contributes to stubble pollution and higher electricity costs for the state.
To ensure sustainable paddy cultivation, the Punjab government has divided the state into three sowing zones:
- Zone 1 (June 1): Faridkot, Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka
- Zone 2 (June 5): Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Hoshiarpur
- Zone 3 (June 9): Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawanshahr
The CM recommended early-maturing, high-yielding PR varieties like PR 114, PR 121 to PR 132 and discouraged spring maize cultivation, another water-heavy crop.
Mann stressed that Punjab’s fertile land, hardworking farmers, and progressive climate should be matched with scientific innovation, including the use of AI in agriculture.
He appreciated last year's slight increase in water levels, attributing it to the shift towards PR varieties. Minister for Agriculture Sardar Gurmeet Singh Khuddian also praised farmers for their continued contribution to national food security, urging cotton cultivation for economic diversity.
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal reaffirmed the university’s commitment to conservation and modernization, mentioning an ₹80 crore infrastructure upgrade, and the launch of a School of AI and Accelerated Breeding to enhance agricultural research.
The event concluded with the release of PAU’s publications, including the Package of Practices for Kharif Crops and the coffee table book “Skilling Young and Old Punjab.”
Dignitaries including Revenue Minister Sardar Hardeep Singh Mundian, MP Sanjeev Arora, and senior officials from the agriculture department and PAU were present.