US diplomat explores future of rice production in Punjab and Haryana during PAU visit

Mariano J Beillard, the senior regional agricultural attaché at the US Embassy in New Delhi, along with Santosh K Singh, a senior agricultural specialist, and Arnella Trent, a crop analyst from the US Department of Agriculture, embarked on a visit to Punjab and Haryana with a specific purpose in mind. Their primary objective was to assess the potential for rice crop production in the upcoming season and to gain a deeper understanding of the agricultural economy's performance in Punjab.

Punjab and Haryana play pivotal roles in India's agricultural landscape, particularly in rice production. The delegation's visit aimed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing in this crucial sector. During their visit to Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana, they engaged in extensive discussions with university Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal and other university officers.

Focus on crop production outlook

The discussions at PAU primarily revolved around the agricultural production outlook for the 2023-2024 season, with a specific focus on the upcoming rice crop. Mariano J Beillard highlighted the significance of India's agricultural sector in ensuring food security and economic growth. He commended India's progress in agriculture and expressed the United States' commitment to further collaboration and support in this vital domain. Beillard also praised institutions like PAU for their role in driving agricultural research and innovation.

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Addressing key agricultural issues

Santosh K Singh posed several queries, covering various aspects of rice cultivation, including pest management, new basmati varieties, labor challenges, crop diversification, mechanization, the potential for ethanol production, and global food grain prices. He also fielded questions related to geopolitical issues, such as the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and their impact on food grain production, prices, India's food grain trade, and minimum support prices.

Insights from PAU

Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal shared insights into the challenges faced by Punjab's agriculture sector and the university's initiatives to address them. He provided detailed information on rice production, highlighting the success of the PR 126 rice variety, which boasts a shorter growth period compared to other varieties. Under favorable conditions, farmers achieved an impressive yield of 38 quintals per acre, surpassing the average yield.

Dr. Gosal also discussed rust-resistant wheat varieties developed by PAU and the release of the heat-tolerant early-maturing variety PBW 826, which holds promise for other states. He mentioned specialty varieties like PAU RS-1, PBW1 Chapati, and PBW1 Zn. In the context of ethanol production, Dr. Gosal suggested innovative options such as utilizing broken grains or sugarcane juice and emphasized the importance of crop diversification considering Minimum Support Prices and marketing strategies. He noted that wheat and rice cultivation in the region is predominantly mechanized, with prototypes developed by PAU.

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Emphasizing international cooperation

The discussion, moderated by Vishal Bector, PAU's associate director for institutional relations, underscored the significance of international cooperation in addressing the challenges and opportunities within the agricultural sector. The visit of the US delegation to PAU served as a valuable platform for sharing insights, ideas, and strategies to advance agricultural practices and bolster agricultural economies in Punjab, Haryana, and beyond.