Centre to Form Panel on Punjab’s Demand for Denotification of Hybrid Paddy Seeds

 

New Delhi, May 14: 

The Union Government has agreed to constitute a special committee to examine Punjab’s demand for the denotification of hybrid paddy seed varieties in the State, following discussions between Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

However, no timeline has been provided for the committee’s decision, even as Punjab has urged the Centre to act immediately before farmers begin sowing hybrid rice varieties for the upcoming kharif season.

Punjab has been pressing for the denotification of all non-basmati hybrid paddy varieties, arguing that certain hybrids result in lower rice recovery during milling. According to the State government, some hybrid varieties fail to meet the mandatory 67 per cent rice out-turn ratio that millers are required to supply to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) after processing procured paddy.

The issue gained momentum after Punjab sought legal authority to restrict the sale of these varieties under existing State laws. However, since the hybrid seeds were officially notified by the Centre, the State can impose restrictions only if the varieties are first denotified by the Union Government.

The Centre has adopted a cautious approach, as any decision lacking strong scientific or legal backing could face challenges from seed companies. Sources indicated that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) had reviewed the matter and found that 23 hybrid rice varieties released since 2015 met the prescribed minimum milling standards.

The controversy also follows a significant court ruling. In August 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down the State government’s earlier ban on hybrid paddy seeds that had been imposed in April 2024. The court, however, allowed restrictions on the sale of non-notified varieties.

During his meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister on May 13, Mann also raised several other agriculture-related concerns. These included ensuring uninterrupted fertiliser supply to Punjab, representation for the State in the Central Seed Committee, and allocation of wheat seed subsidy for the 2026–27 season.

Groundwater conservation and crop diversification strategies were also discussed during the meeting. According to official statements, Chouhan assured full support from the Central Government for Punjab’s agricultural development initiatives.

The Union Agriculture Minister stated that the Centre would extend assistance in water conservation programmes and help the State benefit from national missions related to cotton, pulses, oilseeds, and horticulture in an effort to strengthen Punjab’s agriculture sector further.