The Fact News Service
Chandigarh, March 10
In a significant move to conserve groundwater and provide farmers with a profitable alternative to water-guzzling paddy crop, Punjab is all set to introduce a new high-yield maize hybrid, PMH 17. This dual-purpose hybrid is suitable for both grain and silage production.
Disclosing this here today, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that this hybrid variety can be sown between the last week of May and the end of June, with a maturity period of 96 days. This specific planting window and short maturity time could be beneficial for farmers, potentially allowing for multiple harvests in a single growing season.
The Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department Jaswant Singh, who is also the Chairman of the State varietal approval committee for field crops said that the PMH 17 is a promising new maize hybrid for Punjab’s farmers. It’s well-suited for ethanol production due to high in starch content, and has an average yield of 25 quintals per acre, and it is moderately resistance to common pests like fall armyworms and Maydis leaf blight. The hybrid also features tall plants with broad, erect leaves, semi-open tassels, and long, medium-placed ears with flint, yellow-orange capped grains, indicating a robust and productive plant.
Recognising the new hybrid of Maize’s potential for high yields, ethanol production, and disease resistance, Agriculture Minister Khudian said that it would be a value addition to Punjab’s agricultural landscape. He also directed the department officials to ensure the seeds timely and widespread distribution among farmers from the next season to facilitate the adoption of this new hybrid variety, allowing farmers to benefit from its advantages and contribute to the state’s agricultural growth.
