The North News
Chandigarh, March 10
Punjab is introducing a new high-yield maize hybrid, PMH 17, as part of its strategy to conserve groundwater and provide farmers with a viable alternative to water-intensive paddy crops. The dual-purpose hybrid is suitable for both grain and silage production, offering a profitable option for the state’s agricultural sector.
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Monday said the PMH 17 hybrid could be sown between late May and the end of June, with a maturity period of just 96 days. The short growth cycle could enable multiple harvests within a single season, enhancing farm productivity.
Jaswant Singh, Director of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Chairman of the State Varietal Approval Committee for Field Crops, highlighted the hybrid’s potential. “The PMH 17 is well-suited for ethanol production due to its high starch content,” he said. “It has an average yield of 25 quintals per acre and offers moderate resistance to common pests like fall armyworms and Maydis leaf blight.”
The hybrid’s features include tall plants with broad, erect leaves, semi-open tassels, and medium-placed ears with flint, yellow-orange capped grains, suggesting a robust and productive crop.
Khudian emphasised the hybrid’s value in diversifying Punjab’s agriculture and directed officials to ensure timely and widespread seed distribution from the next planting season. “The adoption of PMH 17 will not only benefit farmers but also support the state’s sustainable agricultural growth,” he said.
