PAU launches community seed bank to help flood-hit farmers

To revive agriculture in flood-ravaged Kapurthala district, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kapurthala, has launched a community seed bank initiative to support farmers who lost their paddy crop during floods earlier this year.

Nearly 7,000 acres in Dhilwan and 30,000 acres in Sultanpur Lodhi were submerged, wiping out the paddy crop and leaving farmers in distress.

To aid recovery, the KVK, Kapurthala, adopted five of the worst-affected villages—Sangra, Baupur Jadid, Baupur Kadeem, Ahli Kalan and Rampur Gaura—and introduced the newly released wheat variety PBW 872, having a yield potential of 24.4 quintal per acre.

At a programme held at Gurdwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, 20 quintal PBW 872 seeds were distributed among 50 farmers from those villages. The initiative aims at providing immediate relief, besides building long-term resilience through a community-based seed bank.

Dr Harinder Singh, incharge, KVK, Kapurthala, said: “The floods destroyed not only the standing crop, but also depleted farmers’ seed resources for the next season. Ensuring timely availability of quality seed is critical to restarting agricultural operations and rebuilding farmers’ confidence. A community seed bank serves as both an immediate recovery mechanism and a long-term resilience strategy.”

Dr Mandeep Singh, Assistant Professor (Agronomy), guided farmers on improved cultivation practices for PBW 872 variety, stressing seed conservation for future planting. He advised selecting healthy plants, proper cleaning, drying and storage to preserve germination potential.

Gagandeep Dhawan, Assistant Professor (Soil Science), elaborated on fertiliser management, noting that PBW 872 was tested under normal recommended doses. It was not advised for high-input conditions. Released in 2025, the variety is expected to strengthen wheat cultivation in the state.

The initiative received support from Paramvir Singh Khalsa and his team from the Sikh International Society, Jalandhar, along with SGPC member Jarnail Singh Dogranwalan. Farmers thanked the PAU centre for timely intervention, calling the seed bank a “ray of hope” in rebuilding livelihoods.