पंजाब

For your knowledge, let us tell you that the Plant Breeding Genetics Department of the Punjab Agricultural University has created a new variety of wheat PBW RS1. It will cost less to farmers. This variety prevents the increase in obesity and the amount of insulin of blood sugar. This variety is going to be very beneficial for our body. Wheat is a major crop of the Rabi season. Along with this, it is a very nutritional meal as a food. Majority of people consume it as part of their diet. Majority of people eat chapatis made up of wheat flour. Farmers can also earn good profit by producing wheat crops. Along with this, situated in Ludhiana, the Plant Breeding Genetics Department of the Punjab Agricultural University has created a new variety of wheat, which prevents the increase in obesity and amount of insulin level in blood sugar. For the same reason, this variety will be proven as very beneficial for health. This rabi season, the seeds of this variety will be provided for cultivation. Along with this training will also be provided for the cultivation of these seeds.

How much time does it takes to PBW RS1 variety of wheat to get prepared 

Generally you would have seen that the patients suffering from obesity are advised not to consume wheat. But recently, after doing a research of 8 to 10 years, the agricultural scientists of the Plant Breeding Genetics Department of the Punjab Agricultural University have prepared the PBW RS1 variety, and doctors will also not stop you from consuming that. Because this new variety of wheat is helpful in controlling obesity.

Read  also: this rabi season, farmers can earn good money by cultivating black wheat. 

What are the benefits of PBW RS1 wheat 

This new variety of wheat developed by agricultural scientists has multiple benefits which are beneficial for our health. Regular consumption of this wheat can prevent us from problems like obesity and diabetes. Nutraceutical values in this variety of wheat are adequate. It also contains resistance starch.

This newly developed variety of wheat will be available in market after the month of April, 2024

Seeds of this variety are very good for patients suffering from diabetes. It will digest easily just like fibres. This wheat will be available in the market after April, 2024. However, the crops of these seeds will be less but it will have high prices in the market. 

Potatoes grown in Kapurthala and Jalandhar of Punjab are mostly used for seeds. These potato varieties are Kufri Pukhraj and Jyoti. In India, they are mostly purchased in Karnataka, West Bengal and Delhi. India ranks second in potato production in the world. But, if we talk about consumption, a large part of it is used in food in India itself. But, today we are going to tell you about pukhraj and Jyoti varieties of potatoes, which are in demand not only in India but all over the world. We are talking about potatoes growing in Kapurthala-Jalandhar district of Punjab. Actually, the demand for potatoes grown here is high because its seed is considered most important for production and quality.

85 percent of the total potato production here is for seeds.

If we talk about this potato grown in Kapurthala and Jalandhar, then 85 percent of its total yield is used only for seeds. According to a report, farmers in these areas use 85 percent of the total potato production for seeds. The main reason for this is that compared to potatoes, farmers' profits increase several times by selling its seeds. Many farmers of India book these seeds from the farmers here even before the crop is harvested.

Also read: Success for potato farmers in Bihar due to these states

Pukhraj and Jyoti varieties are most cultivated.

For potatoes, Pukhraj and Jyoti varieties are the most commonly sown varieties of Doab region of Punjab. The main reason for this is that these varieties are most seen in the Doab region. The production obtained from its seeds is quite high. This is the reason why these are cultivated the most in these areas.

Know how many hectares it is cultivated in

In Punjab, this potato crop is sown in large quantities in the district. According to government figures, it is sown in about 10,000 hectares in the district. At the same time, if we talk about its production, then approximately 2 lakh metric tons of potatoes are produced in the district every year.

Also read: Pink potatoes are more profitable to cultivatie compared to normal potatoes

The seeds are supplied to these states

This potato grown in Kapurthala is  liked by various states of India. But, if we talk about its highest demand, then this potato is mostly purchased by Karnataka, West Bengal and Delhi. Apart from this, it is also purchased in Uttarakhand and some quantity inside Uttar Pradesh.

 As you know, currently the paddy harvesting season is going on. Every year the governments of Punjab and Haryana talk about imposing strictness on farmers and stopping them from burning stubble. But, in reality, farmers are continuously busy burning stubble. For this reason, due to the pollution being spread due to stubble burning, the AQI i.e. Air Quality Index of Delhi-NCR is continuously increasing towards dangerous levels. Like previous years, the threat of stubble has started increasing in the states of Punjab and Haryana this year too. Let us tell you that despite the strictness of the governments of both the states, farmers are seen burning stubble in the open fields. The smoke rising due to stubble burning is proving fatal for the breathing of the people of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi-NCR. The monitoring done by CPCB in Delhi-NCR has reported an average AQI of 263. Because of this, people are at risk of serious diseases.

Stubble is being continuously set on fire in the states of Punjab and Haryana. As the paddy harvesting season is progressing, the cases of stubble burning are also increasing continuously. Due to the smoke and pollution generated by stubble burning, the AQI of many cities of Haryana including Delhi-NCR has reached very poor levels.

Stubble is being burnt without fear in Punjab

Even though it is being claimed that the cases of stubble burning are decreasing in the state of Punjab, the process of openly burning stubble is also continuing. In Derabassi around Chandigarh, stubble was seen burning openly on the side of the highway. Today, if you pass through any national highway in Punjab and Haryana, you will see burnt-black fields on the side of the road. Where the stubble will be seen completely reduced to ashes, farmers cleverly set fire to the stubble in their fields and then leave their fields, so that no legal action can be taken against them.

Also read: Haryana government plans to save environment from residues like stubble etc.

In Haryana, conscious farmers are managing stubble properly.

For your information, let us tell you that there are farmers who believe in managing the stubble instead of burning it. In Naggal village of Panchkula, farmers were seen using the stubble as fertilizer in the fields and directly sowing wheat seeds through a Super Seeder machine. These farmers say that the farmers who can buy expensive machines are the ones who manage the stubble. But, small and marginal farmers have no option other than burning the stubble.

What complaints do farmers have against the government?

In Mankaiya village of Panchkula, some farmers are making heaps of stubble after traditionally harvesting the paddy crop. But, they also complain that instead of employing laborers, they are managing the stubble to burn it. But, they have neither received any assistance nor been given any kind of grant from the government. They have to manage the stubble at their own expense.

Also read: Farmers became aware of the pollution caused by stubble, the percentage of cases reduced in these states

Cases have decreased significantly from before

There has been a decline in the cases of stubble burning in Punjab this year as compared to last year. So far, incidents of stubble burning have been reported at 1764 places in the state. These figures are the lowest in the last 2 years. In the same period, 4327 cases were registered so far in 2021 and 3114 cases in 2022. If we talk about Haryana state, 714 cases of stubble burning have been reported this season. However, if compared to last year, 893 cases had been reported so far last year. If the government of Haryana-Punjab states makes the farmers fully aware and provides them resources, then the challenge of stubble can be rid of. Let us tell you that the recorded AQI of some cities of Haryana is frightening. 255 air quality index was recorded in Karnal-243, Rohtak-182, Jind-155, Faridabad-322, Bahadurgarh-284, Kaithal-269, Kurukshetra-256 and Gurugram.

As you all know, the Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the stubble burning in Punjab despite the court's order. "Why should the farmers who are burning stubble get any financial benefit, those who have burnt stubble and are red-flagged should be denied the benefits of minimum support price, besides registration of FIR and imposition of fine on them," the court said. The government should do something for their welfare.

Governments should stop blaming each other. SC 

"When Haryana can do it, why can't Punjab," the court said while commenting on the Punjab government's attitude in preventing stubble burning. The court asked the Punjab government to inform it on the next date how many farmers have been fined for stubble burning and how much of it has been recovered. The court said there should be no politics over the issue. One should not blame or compare one with the other. The Centre and the state should forget politics and find a long-term solution. These observations, suggestions and orders were made by a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia while hearing a matter on air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

Whats the punjab take on this ?

Punjab has said that stubble burning has reduced significantly as compared to the past. A total of 984 FIRs have been registered. He has also been fined Rs two lakh. Flying squads have been deployed to prevent stubble burning in the fields. But, people do not allow them to reach, the road is blocked. Law and order is also a problem. To this, the bench said, "The SHO has been made responsible in the order. You can't talk about law and order. To this, Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, referred to the Centre's status report and said Punjab had paid only 6621 environmental compensation. In Punjab, 3415 challans, Rs. 86.8 lakh fine and 473 FIRs have been registered.

NGT had pulled the legs of the Punjab government regarding pollution and stubble burning. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab and Haryana government to prepare a roadmap to reduce stubble burning cases in 2024. Tribunal commented that “you will forget about all this and next year you'll again burn stubble”. NGT had directed states to prepare a time-bound plan ( action plan) along with different preventive steps for the upcoming year. For the stance on Delhi pollution, the Tribunal scolded aur quality management commission just to implement and debard the GRAP. NGT stated that CAQM is working on its own. What is the work of CAQM? They just cancel and implement GRAP. They are never present in 90% of their committee meetings.

NGT showed disappointment regarding increasing cases of stubble burning. 

NGT enquired Punjab government before this about increasing cases of pollution and burning of stubble. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble. The NGT showed disappointment to the Punjab government for not taking necessary steps to prevent stubble burning. 

NGT stated government responsible for stubble burning 

NGT stated it as the ‘complete failure of management’ and said, “ at the time when issue was raised, stubble burning cases were around 600 and now it has increased to a number of 33,000 cases, even on the facts that NGT and supreme court discussing over this and you are telling that you are taking actions”. NGT stated that ‘this is a complete failure of management’. The whole system is working and you failed. 

NGT enquired Punjab advocates 

NGT also called on the Punjab government to play a ‘ selective role in charging trials on violators’. Because the Punjab advocate said that he filed an FIR against only 829 people out of 1500 for burning stubble in one day. This is only one-fourth of the one day cases. NGT on this stated to the Punjab government that why similar actions are not to be taken against all of them? Meanwhile, in the increase in the level of Delhi pollution, the supreme court clearly directed haryana, uttar pradesh, rajasthan and Punjab on 7 November that burning agricultural remains should be immediately stopped and we can't let people die out of pollution. 

In the present, sugarcane Farmers will get more price than before. Punjab has been the maximum price giving state for sugarcane in India. The Punjab government has taken a big decision for the benefit of farmers. There is good news for sugarcane cultivators from the State government. The government has announced to increase the rates of sugarcane. In the present, 391 rupees per quintal will be given to the state's sugarcane Farmers accordingly. 

Apart from this, Punjab has now become the highest payer to sugarcane farmers in india. States like Haryana and others come after Punjab in this list. In paying highest to sugarcane, Punjab is at the first position and second position is acquired by Haryana. 386 rupees per quintal is given for sugarcane in Haryana. UP and Uttarakhand farmers are paid at the rate of 350 rupees per quintal. 

Farmers will get profit of this much rupees per quintal 

For your knowledge, let you know that state farmers have been demanding to increase the price of sugarcane for the past many days. State had been paying 380 rupees per quintal which has been increased to 391 rupees in present. At present, farmers will be getting 11 rupees extra per quintal after this decision. The Punjab government has decided this after the demands of farmers of the state. 

It will be proven as a beneficial decision to farmers 

Sugarcane farmers were demanding an increase in the price for a very long time. Government considering the demands of farmers, undertook this decision, for which farmers have also protested in past days. After this decision, the representative of farmers had a conversation with the chief minister of Punjab and the government assured them a hike in price. Along with this, demands of farmers was to increase the price upto 450 rupees per quintal. According to reports, after this decision of the Punjab government, Farmers will get more benefits. Let you know, after this decision along with the increase in wages of farmers, their financial condition will also improve a lot