The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) has sought the Central government’s intervention to lift the Punjab government’s ban on using hybrid paddy seeds for the upcoming Kharif sowing season. The move could dent farmers’ income by as much as ₹8000- ₹10,000 per acre.
“Hybrid rice consistently delivers five to six quintals higher productivity per acre, with better water efficiency. By blocking these seeds, the state is effectively writing off roughly one month’s income of a small farmer’s earnings,” said Ajai Rana, Chairman of FSII and CII North Region Agriculture Committee.
“The ban’s timing is particularly concerning, as the Kharif 2025 sowing season approaches. Farmers and seed dealers are left in a state of uncertainty, potentially leading to significant economic losses,” Rana, also a noted seeds expert, said.
FSII has also filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the state’s decision. The hearing is scheduled for later this month. The Punjab government, in an order issued April 7, banned the cultivation of hybrid rice varieties for the upcoming paddy transplantation season.
