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The Shift in Paddy Cultivation: Pusa-44 to Pusa-2090
Context:
The Green Revolution in India transformed agricultural practices, significantly increasing food production through the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties.
More on News:
- Farm fires in Punjab and Haryana have long been a significant environmental issue, contributing to severe air pollution in northern India.
- These fires are primarily caused by the burning of paddy stubble, a practice adopted by farmers to quickly clear fields for the next crop cycle. However, a new rice variety, Pusa-2090, offers a promising solution to this problem.
The Problem with Pusa-44:
- Pusa-44, a popular rice variety among farmers, is known for its high yield of 35-36 quintals per acre, sometimes reaching up to 40 quintals.
- However, it takes 155-160 days to mature, which means it is typically harvested towards the end of October.
- This leaves farmers with a narrow window to prepare their fields for the winter wheat crop, leading many to resort to burning the leftover straw and stubble.
- This practice is a major contributor to the air pollution crisis in the region from late October to mid-November.
Introducing Pusa-2090:
- Developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Pusa-2090 is a shorter-duration paddy variety that matures in 120-125 days.
- This allows it to be harvested by early to mid-October, providing farmers with ample time to prepare their fields for the next crop without resorting to stubble burning.
- Despite its shorter growing period, Pusa-2090 yields nearly as much as Pusa-44, producing 34-35 quintals per acre.
- Benefits: Pusa-2090’s strong stem reduces the risk of lodging during adverse weather, and its lower water requirements—5-6 fewer irrigations compared to Pusa-44—make it an attractive option.
Positive Reception and Government Support:
- Recent reports indicate that Pusa-2090 has been well-received in regions where it has been tested, with farmers reporting yields comparable to Pusa-44.
- The variety has undergone rigorous testing at the All-India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project and is identified for cultivation in states like Delhi and Odisha.
- In a proactive move, the Punjab government has banned Pusa-44 to promote the adoption of this more sustainable variety.
Addressing Stubble Burning:
- Alongside promoting Pusa-2090, several strategies are being explored to tackle stubble burning.
- These include the use of PUSA decomposers, fungal strains that accelerate the decomposition of paddy straw, and the Happy Seeder, a tractor-mounted device that cuts and lifts rice straw while simultaneously sowing wheat.
- These technologies, coupled with the adoption of Pusa-2090, could significantly reduce stubble-burning incidents.
Conclusion:
The transition from Pusa-44 to Pusa-2090 represents a significant opportunity for Punjab’s farmers. By adopting shorter-duration varieties, farmers can mitigate environmental impacts, optimise crop cycles, and maintain high yields, ensuring both economic viability and sustainability in agricultural practices.