Pusa-44 Variety-Hybrid Paddy

Pusa-44 Variety-Hybrid Paddy: Recently, the Punjab government banned the cultivation of hybrid paddy and the Pusa-44 variety to tackle severe groundwater depletion and related environmental issues.

• Hybrid Paddy: Crossbred non-Basmati rice developed from two different parent lines.

၀ Purpose: Designed for high-yield, water-efficient, and early-maturing cultivation.

၀ Common Varieties in Punjab: Sava 127, Sava 134, Sava 7501, 27P22, VNR 203.

၀ Growth Duration: 125–130 days (short-duration).

၀ Average Yield: 35–40 quintals per acre (5–6 quintals more than traditional varieties).

၀ Stubble Generation: Produces less stubble, helping reduce stubble burning.

၀ Use Case: Popular in commercial farming due to shorter cycles and efficient output.

• Pusa-44: Long-duration, high-yield paddy variety developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

၀ Purpose: Widely adopted for its exceptional yield potential.

၀ Growth Duration: 155–160 days (long-duration), maturing in late October.

၀ Average Yield: 35–36 quintals per acre.

၀ Stubble Generation: Contributes significantly to stubble burning due to time pressure before the wheat season.

၀ Environmental Impact: Major source of post-harvest air pollution in North India.