The Punjab government has officially imposed a ban on early sowing of paddy crops, following recommendations from an enquiry committee that investigated farmers’ complaints regarding poor yield and financial losses during the previous harvesting season.
According to a notification issued on Tuesday, the ban is enforced under the Punjab Agriculture Pests Ordinance 1959, prohibiting farmers from cultivating paddy nurseries before May 20, 2025. Violators will face strict legal action, with penalties including a fine of Rs. 50,000 and/or a six-month jail term.
The decision primarily aims to curb the practice of double rice cropping, which has been putting immense pressure on subsoil and canal water resources. Many farmers attempt to grow two rice crops in a season, a method that significantly depletes water levels, disrupts climate balance, and negatively impacts overall agricultural sustainability.
Inquiry Findings and Recommendations
The ban stems from an inquiry conducted by a committee formed on the directives of the National Food Security & Research Ministry. The investigation focused on complaints from farmers regarding low paddy yields due to poor-quality seeds provided by seed companies in the previous season.
The committee which is led by Joint Secretary Amjad Ahmad, included experts like Dr. Muhammad Ijaz (RRI, Kala Shah Kaku), Shehzad Ali Malik (Guard Agri Research & Services), Khalid Khokhar (Pakistan Kissan Ittehad President), and Muhammad Azam Khan (DG, FSC&RD). Their research is involved with field visits to Gujranwala, Sahiwal, and Khanewal, key rice-producing regions in Punjab, to assess the impact of various factors on the harvest.
After gathering input from farmers and examining climate conditions, water availability, and farming practices, the committee concluded that early paddy sowing should be completely banned to protect the yield and natural resources.
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Measures for Better Seed Quality and Sustainable Farming
In addition to the ban, the committee has suggested various strict measures to ensure better seed quality and farming practices, including:
• Seed organizations must need to provide proper guidelines with seed bags in the form of pamphlets to educate farmers about best practices.
• Only registered dealers should distribute seeds to prevent the sale of low-quality or counterfeit products.
• Strict action against seed companies and dealers involved in selling misbranded or substandard seeds.
• The development of heat-resistant rice varieties must be the top priority, with mandatory heat stress testing for all new rice varieties before the ratification of the market.
Government’s Role in Execution
The provincial agriculture departments have been assigned with strictly enforcing the ban, ensuring that no paddy nurseries are being planted before the 20th of May 2025.
They will also enforce check and balance upon the evaluations of seed distribution and ensure these are aligned with the newly recommended guidelines.
This move is expected to bring perpetual benefits by improving water conservation, stabilizing the climate, and enhancing overall paddy production efficiency in Punjab.