PUSA
2090 : ENVIRONMENT / GEOGRAPHY
NEWS
:
A rice variety that can address farm fires in Punjab and Haryana: here’s how
WHAT’S
IN THE NEWS?
The narrow window between paddy harvesting and sowing
of wheat is at the root of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana. Here's why that
happens, and how a new rice variety could help.
Cultivation
of Pusa-44 Paddy:
- High Yield: Farmers in Punjab grow
Pusa-44 since 2000, yielding 35-40 quintals per acre.
- Development: Pusa-44 was developed by
IARI and takes 155-160 days to mature.
- Comparison: Offers higher yield than
shorter-duration varieties like PR-126.
Environmental
Costs:
- Stubble Burning: Late harvest leads to
stubble burning to clear fields for wheat, causing severe air pollution in
northern India.
New
Variety - Pusa-2090:
- Solution: IARI developed Pusa-2090,
a 120 - 125day variety similar to PR-126 but with yields close to Pusa-44.
- Benefits: Reduces water use,
minimizes stubble burning, and allows better crop rotation.
Farmer
Response:
- Farmers are testing
Pusa-2090 due to its promising yield and milling quality.
Alternatives
to Stubble Burning:
- PUSA Decomposers: Fungi capsules that speed
up paddy straw decomposition.
- Happy Seeder: Tractor device that sows
wheat without burning straw.
- Palletisation: Converting paddy straw
into pellets for fuel, reducing coal use and emissions.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-economics/pusa-44-rice-punjab-haryana-stubble-9594896/