Flood-affected farmers to get free wheat seeds for up to five acres

The state government will provide free wheat seeds to flood-hit farmers for up to five acres of land.

Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the government would distribute two lakh quintals of high-quality wheat seeds for the rabi season.

He said this substantial aid, valued at approximately Rs 74 crore, was aimed at covering the sowing needs for nearly 5 lakh acres of land that suffered extensive damage due to heavy rain and unprecedented flooding.

Khudian informed that PUNSEED would be the nodal agency for distributing seeds to farmers.

He said Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recommended wheat seeds, including PBW 826, PBW 869, PBW 824, PBW 803, PBW 766, PBW 725, PBW 677, PBW 771, PBW 757, PBW 752, PBW ZINC 2, PBW 1 CHAPATI, PBW 1 ZN, DBW 222, DBW 187, HD 3226, HD 3086, UNNAT PBW 343 and UNNAT PBW 550 would be distributed to farmers.

Apart from this, the government would also provide 60,871 quintals of quality wheat seeds to farmers at 50 per cent subsidy for Rs 2,000 per quintal. “Our farmers faced nature’s fury. It is our duty to stand with them. The loss of Kharif crop has left many helpless and anxious about the next season. By providing free wheat seeds, we are not just giving them a resource, we are giving them hope and the means to begin anew,” the minister said.

Khudian added that the floods had crippled agricultural economy, with many farmers lacking the resources to purchase seeds for the rabi season.

Khudian informed that Uttar Pradesh’s Agriculture Minister SP Shahi had offered to send 1,000 quintals of wheat seeds to support flood-affected farmers.