Punjab Paddy Milling Industry Challenges

The late storage of paddy is posing problems for Punjab's paddy milling industry. The Sava 7501, Sava 7301, and Sava 468 hybrid rice seeds are at the center of the dispute. Although hybrid rice is well recognized for increasing productivity, Punjabi rice millers have concerns about these types' milling output (OTR). Because it impacts the milling industry's financial sustainability, this problem is crucial.

Use of Hybrid Rice Varieties in Punjab

• During 2023-24, 2% of the geographically available rice area in Punjab had planted hybrid rice varieties.
• Fear of rice millers comes from reduction of out-of-tree (OTR) occasioned by the hybrids.
• Other causes ought to be likewise considered instead of pinning the problems on the hybrid seeds, such as harvest moisture management and technological changes, to name a few.
• Ajai Rana, currently the chairman of the Federation of Seed Industry of India, further goes on to make a case for hybrid varieties, stating that Sava 7501 yields between 38-40 quintals per acre.
• Improved or hybrid rice has been adopted throughout the world and particularly by China and the US.
• The National Food Security Mission is an example of how the Government of India encourages the growing of hybrid rice.
• They consider better regulation that would enable farmers to be provided with quality produce at the right market price as recommended by Punjab agriculture department officials.