The development of PSH 996 hybrid sunflower by PAU and its production technology has led to the popularisation of its cultivation in Punjab which was adopted by farmers with great enthusiasm. The Punjab witnessed a sharp increase in the area under sunflower's cultivation from 14,250 hectare in 1990-91 to 21,900 hectare in 2011-12.

The productivity during this time, however also increased substantially from 1,579 kg per hectare in 1990-91
to 1,780 kg per hectare in 2011-12. This can mainly be attributed to the development and release of high
yielding improved hybrids both by public and private sectors and better production and protection technologies to raise the successful crop.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts, including Satwinder Kaur Dhillon, Ravi Kant Bajaj and Varinder Sardana scientists  of the department of Plant Breeding and Genetics made these observations while interacting with the scientists of Krishi Vigyan Kenderas of Faridkot and Moga at Krishi Vigyan Kender of Moga and Budhsinghwala yesterday.

The experts also observed that the sunflower, being a spring season crop, can fit well in the different cropping systems and can play on important role in promoting crop diversification in Punjab. Keeping in view the objectives of development of medium duration hybrids with high seed and oil yield potential even under late sowing, the PAU has released the new sunflower hybrid PSH 996.