The government of Punjab will upgrade the PUNSEED processing plants so as to produce three lac quintal seed as against the present capacity of 1-1.5 lac quintal and the Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana ( PAU ) and Agriculture Department will ensure adequate and timely supply of wheat seeds to farmers during the Rabi season 2015-16.Issuing directions for the same, Jathedar Tota Singh Agriculture Minister Punjab informed that PAU will submit a detailed report regarding the rates of the seeds and the arrangements done for its distribution by government seed agencies like PUNSEED, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, National Seed Corporation (NSC) and PAU the Rabi season.
Besides, PAU will print adequate literature in the form of pamphlets, leaflets etc to highlight the best practices in wheat cultivation including usage of drill machines, the most productive qualities of seed, prevention of deceases etc.Extension Services Wing of PAU will educate the farmers about the timely schedule of sowing wheat during the coming Rabi season on one hand and would make them aware of the latest farm practices to enhance the yield both qualitatively and quantitatively. He said that Agriculture department will encourage the farmers to grow quality seed of high yield varieties and identify few villages to be named as ‘seed villages’ in the state. The farmers desirous of sowing seeds would be given proper training and technical know-how to produce the best quality seed in the state.
Minister said that a total of 35 lakh hectares area would be sown during ensuing rabi season 2015-16 and thus 35 lakh quintal Quality Wheat seed was required. He said that the State Agriculture Department and PAU will be fully geared up and the farmers of the state would be provided with requisite quantity of quality wheat seed well in advance before the onset of Rabi season.He said that the varieties like HD-3086, HD-2967 and WH-1105 was best suited for Punjab and Haryana conditions. The seed of these varieties will be procured for the farmers of the state. He said that air conditioned storage facilities for preserving the germplasm, nucleus, seed and breeder seed to ensure high quality multiplication of seeds would be constructed at PAU. Moreover the seed producing farmers will be provided Pre-cleaner machines at subsidized rates to clean the wheat.
Minister also stressed on the need to propagate Zero tillage and incorporation of crop residue in the field to maintain the quality of grains and added that there was need to maintain varietal diversity so as to avoid any epidemics of insect/pest/disease or loss due to inclement weather. He said that the seeds producing farmers will be registered by PUNSEED and they would be given Rs.400/- per quintal premium over and above the rate of wheat fixed by the government. This would be done under the supervision of Seed Certification authority of Agriculture department. He added that very soon the seed testing laboratory at Faridkot would be started and directions have been issued for the same.