Punjab Farmers Advised to Prepare their Own Wheat Seed

The Punjab Agriculture Department has issued an appeal to farmers to consider preparing their own wheat seed for the upcoming cropping season. This comes as a response to the prediction of an increase in the price of wheat seed due to crop damage caused by unfavorable weather conditions. The department believes that this measure will help farmers save money that they would otherwise have to spend to purchase wheat seed from seed-producing agencies.

At first, agricultural experts were concerned that harsh weather might harm the wheat crop, leading to grains that were unsuitable for use as seeds. However, upon harvesting the crop, it was discovered that the wheat plants that had managed to withstand the unpredictable weather conditions retained their quality and shine, providing a glimmer of hope to produce seeds in the upcoming planting season

Gurcharan Singh, a farmer from the village of Rode in the Moga district, expressed, “There is no distinction in the cultivation mechanism for producing seeds or for growing crops. A vast majority of the farmers set aside a part of their quality grains for growing seeds that can be used in the next season”.

Dr. Manjit Singh, the Chief Agriculture Development Officer, and Dr. Jaswinder Singh Brar, the Plant Protection Officer, have been visiting various villages to educate farmers on how to choose high-quality grains from their produce for seed selection. In addition, they are raising awareness about better post-harvest techniques and the scientific storage of seeds.

Dr. Brar advised the farmers to ensure that their grains were cleaned thoroughly and dried adequately under the sun to reduce the moisture content to less than 12 percent, which would prevent the growth of fungi and germination. The farmers should also eliminate any broken or damaged seeds before storing them. It is necessary to treat the seeds with insecticide before storing them in airtight containers or new gunny bags. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of storing the seeds in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight and humidity.

-The Tribune  

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