Punjab’s Ban on Hybrid Paddy Varieties Hits Seed Companies, While Acreage Increases in Other States

A recent order by the Punjab government imposing a ban on the sale and sowing of hybrid paddy seeds for the current Kharif season has put seed companies in a difficult situation. The directive, issued by the Director of Agriculture on April 7, 2025, prohibits the cultivation and seed sale of hybrid paddy varieties along with the traditional PR-44 variety. This decision comes despite the fact that several hybrid varieties were notified by the Government of India for cultivation in Punjab after a rigorous testing and trial process conducted by the ICAR. In contrast, states like Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar are witnessing an increase in the area under hybrid paddy cultivation.

According to the order issued by the Punjab government, based on the recommendation of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, there is a complete ban on the sale and sowing of paddy variety PR-44 and hybrid seeds during the Kharif season 2025. The reasons cited for the ban on hybrid varieties include their high cost and failure to meet Food Corporation of India (FCI) quality standards.

Notably, rice millers in Punjab last year refused to procure paddy from hybrid varieties, alleging higher breakage and lower milling recovery ratio. Following the escalation of this issue, the Punjab government has now imposed a ban on the hybrid paddy varieties.

The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) has written to the Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister, and top officials of the Punjab government, presenting their arguments in support of hybrid paddy varieties. According to FSII, hybrid paddy varieties are being adopted worldwide for shorter crop cycles, better moisture stress tolerance, and higher productivity. They argue that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducts research trials to test new hybrids and varieties before issuing notifications. Milling recovery, as per FCI norms, is also an important criterion for the advancement, release and notification of new hybrids.

Citing reports from PAU, ICAR, and international research institutions like the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), South Asia Regional Centre, Varanasi, the seed industry claims that the allegations of higher breakage and lower milling recovery in hybrid paddy varieties are incorrect. Hybrids meet and exceed the required standards, as evidenced by rigorous testing data from PAU and ICAR. They emphasize that rice milling efficiency, including milling ratio and grain breakage percentage, depends on various factors such as harvest time moisture, grain moisture content at the time of milling and the efficiency of milling machinery.

FSII states that Hybrids are bred for higher milling percentages of 70-72.5%, exceeding the Food Corporation of India (FCI) norms. Head Rice Recovery (HRR) in Hybrids is 60-63.9%, which is higher than most local varieties. They also argue that in Punjab, hybrids constitute approximately 5% of the total cultivated area under the rice crop. In contrast, other states (e.g., Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar) have significantly higher adoption rates of hybrid rice and do not face similar issues with milling or grain quality. This suggests that the issues experienced by Punjab’s rice millers may be specific and require in-depth investigation. It is noteworthy that neighbouring Haryana cultivates hybrid paddy on approximately 35% of its rice area.

The seed industry has also questioned the role of Punjab Agricultural University in this issue. In their letter to the Punjab government, FSII pointed out that while State Agricultural Universities, including PAU, after years of rigorous trials, have validated the performance of these hybrids. Despite this, it is puzzling to see the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) displaying a dichotomous position. On one hand, it participates in the notification process of hybrids and on the other, it questions their performance, creating confusion among farmers. FSII asserts that the ban on hybrid paddy varieties will harm Punjab’s economy and its farmers.

The PR-44 variety was also banned in Punjab last year due to its long maturity period and high water consumption. The same reasons have been cited for its ban this year. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana have been cultivating the PR-44 variety due to its high yield, as no other variety has yet been able to match its productivity. However, some hybrid varieties from seed companies are quite close to PR-44 in terms of productivity and have a shorter maturity period.

According to the seed industry, Hybrid rice has proven to be an effective approach for significantly increasing agricultural yields. Offering more than a 15-20% yield advantage over improved inbred varieties, hybrid rice yields average 6-7 tonnes per hectare, compared to 4-5 tonnes per hectare for inbred varieties. This increase in productivity plays a crucial role in enhancing farmers’ incomes. Additionally, Hybrids mature 10-15 days earlier than traditional varieties, reducing the irrigation period. Cultivating hybrid varieties can reduce water requirements by 15-20%. Thus, Hybrid rice varieties present an opportunity to enhance farmers’ incomes, improve natural resource efficiency and environmental sustainability.

However, the Punjab government has rejected all these arguments and imposed a ban on hybrid varieties. While the seed industry is demanding to ensure that farmers have the freedom to choose between different varieties.

Although the order banning the sowing and sale of hybrid rice varieties came on April 7, 2025, discussions between seed companies and the Punjab government on this issue had been ongoing since February. Sources suggest that the pressure from the arhtias (commission agent) lobby might have played a role in this decision, leading to the ban on hybrid paddy varieties in Punjab instead of promoting them.