Farmers eagerly bought seeds at PAU Kisan Mela

Ludhiana: Farmers flocked to the recently held PAU Kisan Mela to buy various types of seeds. Many traveled from across the state to take advantage of the good prices, as seeds are often sold at much higher rates elsewhere. The event saw such high demand that the university opened extra counters to serve everyone. At the fair, 56 types of seeds were available for crops, fruits, vegetables, and more. The new paddy variety, PR 132, was especially popular. It needs less fertilizer and produces a higher yield, attracting many buyers. Gaurav Khosla, a plant breeder at PAU, noted that it requires only 75% of the usual urea compared to other seeds. Another sought-after variety was PR 131, introduced last year. This high-yielding and disease-resistant paddy seed also gained attention. However, the standout was PR 126, which matures quickly in just 93 days. This is about three to four weeks faster than traditional varieties. During the fair, a total of 1,400 quintals of seeds were sold. Among them, PR 126 sold 288 quintals, PR 132 250 quintals, and PR 131 194 quintals. Kits containing 12 types of vegetable seeds, along with millet and pulse kits, were also in high demand. Jashandeep Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib shared that he buys seeds at the fair every year to ensure quality and avoid overpriced options. He praised the vegetable kit, which costs only Rs 100. Similarly, Amandeep Singh Brar, the director of seeds, highlighted the trust farmers have in PAU for quality seeds, leading to this surge in demand.