Bathinda: The recommendation of chief minister has skyrocketed the demand for PR Punjab Rice 126 variety of paddy to a level where complaints of its short supply and black marketing are coming in.

This shortest variety matures in 120 days, which includes 25 to 28 days of making nursery for plantation. The official rate is Rs 43.75 a kilogram and the seed comes in packings of 8 and 24 kg. Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) recommends using 8-kg seed in each acre but the normal usage is 6 kg. Unable to find the variety at the government institutes PAU, research stations, and primary agricultural co-operative societies, the farmers claim that only private traders have it and they are selling it for an inflated price.

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