Sluggish sales force Punjab Agricultural University to slash paddy seed rates

Poor response of farmers to expensive paddy varieties has forced Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to slash its rates.

Though PAU claims the rates of paddy seeds were cut keeping in mind the huge loss suffered by farmers due to unseasonal rain, many officials, pleading anonymity, revealed the decision was taken due to sluggish sales.

"The response was poor even during kisan melas that were organised across the state from March 10 to 27," they said. The varsity had a huge stock which it wanted to sell off before the sowing season. The prices were lowered to evince interest of farmers in these varieties, said sources.

In an official release issued on April 17, PAU's Centre of Communication and International Linkages had said: "Due to the delay in marketing of wheat and damage to rabi crops due to unseasonal rains, PAU has decided to slash the rates of paddy seeds for the coming kharif season."

Farmers, who had earlier bought the seed varieties at higher prices, have asked PAU to compensate them.