Amidst wheat sowing season, farmers in Punjab are distressed because the government stock of the award-winning PBW-826 seed has already been exhausted. This variety was developed and released by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) last year. The Director of the agricultural development, Jaswant Singh, stated, The stock of PBW-826 wheat variety has run out. It was launched last year. However, we have other varieties of wheat seeds available.
After four years of clinical and field trials, the PBW-826 variety, known for its excellent heat tolerance, was developed and introduced by PAU last year. It has shown a 31% and 17% higher yield compared to the popular HD-3086 and HD-2967 varieties, respectively. In recent months, long queues of farmers were seen at farmer fairs where PAU was selling the PBW-826 variety.
PAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Satbir Singh Gosal stated that the university is selling its limited stock of PBW-826 variety through farmer fairs and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). He said, We have already sold around 4,700 quintals of seed to farmers. Now, we have run out of PBW-826 variety seeds. The Vice-Chancellor mentioned that they have provided approximately 600 quintals of seed for seed multiplication to public and private seed producers throughout the state. This measure has been taken to avoid a shortage of seeds.
Meanwhile, due to the government's lack of supply of PBW-826 seeds, farmers are forced to purchase seeds from private vendors who are selling them at high prices. It has been observed that these vendors are selling non-labeled PBW-826 seeds at Rs. 2,400 for a 40-kilogram bag. In particular, PAU is selling a 20-kilogram bag for Rs. 1,000.
Wheat farmer Kulwinder Singh from Sangrur said, PBW-826 seeds are not available at government stores. They are being sold by private vendors at high prices, and the certification label on seed bags is also missing. The government should sell seeds to cooperative societies at subsidized rates.
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