Chandigarh, May 1 — With wheat harvests nearly complete, farmers in Punjab’s waterlogged belt have launched a renewed appeal to the state government, urging it to allow cultivation of hybrid paddy varieties—a move they say is essential for their survival.
The demand comes in the wake of a statewide ban on hybrid paddy cultivation, imposed by the government due to concerns over groundwater depletion and reportedly poor milling yields. But for many in southern districts like Muktsar, the prohibition has sparked growing frustration and despair.
“Traditional paddy just doesn’t survive here anymore. We’ve tried and failed. Only hybrid varieties have given us a chance,” said Gobind Singh, a farmer from Kotli Dewan village. “Without that option, we’re being pushed further into debt.”
On Tuesday, a delegation of farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) met with Muktsar Deputy Commissioner Abhijeet Kaplish. The group submitted a memorandum urging the state to reconsider its stance, particularly for areas suffering from severe waterlogging.
According to the farmers, the state’s failure to supply high-quality cotton seeds in recent seasons forced many to abandon cotton cultivation—a crop once widely grown in the region. In its place, they turned to hybrid paddy, which they claim is the only crop that can tolerate current soil and water conditions.
“Cotton has disappeared, and most PR paddy varieties don’t suit our land. What option do we have left?” asked Puran Singh Vattu, president of the Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Dakonda) in Muktsar.
The farmers are now demanding that the state government test soil and water samples from affected areas and grant exemptions for hybrid cultivation where necessary.
“The sowing window is closing fast. We’re not asking for luxuries—just the right to grow what keeps us alive,” said farmer leader Jarnail Singh Roranwala. “Denying this is like strangling a man already drowning in debt.”
As the clock ticks toward planting deadlines, the state has announced that direct sowing of rice (DSR) will begin May 15, while traditional transplanting is set to commence June 1 in districts including Muktsar, Faridkot, Ferozepur, Bathinda, and Fazilka.
But unless the government responds swiftly to their plea, the farmers have threatened to escalate the issue.
“If our demand isn’t met soon,” warned a statement from the farmer delegation, “we will be left with no option but to launch mass protests across the region.”
