Context: The narrow window between paddy harvesting and sowing of wheat is at the root of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. Pusa-44 variety is a popular variety of rice which gives enhanced production but its long duration means that farmers have a small window for getting their fields ready for sowing rabi crops, forcing farmers to fire their fields. As an alternative to the popular Pusa-44 rice variety, researchers have developed Pusa-2090 rice variety with a shorter crop duration and yield at par with PUSA-44.
Pusa-44 Rice Variety
- Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and popular among farmers since the 2000s.
- Yields 35-36 quintals per acre (up to 40 quintals on some lands).
- Pusa-44 takes 155-160 days to grow, from the time of sowing its seeds in nurseries to harvesting the grain.
- The high yields — more than the 30-32 quintals per acre that its nearest competitor, the Punjab Agricultural University’s PR-126, gives over just 123-125 days — is Pusa-44’s main attraction for farmers.
- Although taking 30-35 days longer to mature, the extra 4-5 quintals yield is worth Rs 9,280-11,600 (per acre) at the Centre’s minimum support price of Rs 2,320 per quintal for ‘Grade A’ paddy.
- Environmental cost: The Pusa-44 paddy, transplanted in mid-June after nursery- sowing a month before, can be harvested only towards end-October. This leaves little time for field preparation to sow the winter wheat crop, which should ideally be done before mid-November. Most farmers, then, resort to burning the loose straw and standing stubble that remains after harvesting using combines.
- Current Cultivation Trends: Pusa-44's area in Punjab decreased from 39% in 2012 to 14.8% in 2023 but remains a first choice in certain districts. The Punjab government has banned Pusa-44, but farmers continue to grow it using saved seeds.
- Farmer Practices: Some farmers use Super Seeders to manage stubble without burning. Others who cannot afford such equipment still burn stubble for efficiency.
Pusa-2090 (Alternative to Pusa-44)
- A new, improved shorter-duration rice variety bred from Pusa-44 and CB-501.
- Maturity period of 120-125 days, same as PR-126, but with higher yields (34-35 quintals per acre).
- Combines Pusa-44’s high yield potential with CB-501’s early maturity traits.
- Given the lower yield penalty vis-à-vis Pusa-44, and duration comparable to PR-126, farmers may find it viable to cultivate Pusa-2090.
- Agricultural Benefits:
- Yields similar to Pusa-44 with a significantly shorter growing period.
- Lower irrigation needs (5-6 less than Pusa-44), contributing to water savings.
- Stronger culm reduces lodging risk compared to PR-126.
- Milling Quality Considerations:
- PR-126 paddy isn’t liked much by millers because the rice recovery from it is hardly 63%, whereas the government’s required norm is 67%. If Pusa-2090’s grain quality matches that of Pusa-44, there will be acceptability for it from the millers’ side too
- Pusa-2090 offers a viable solution to reduce farm fires and improve crop management in Punjab and Haryana.