HYBRID PADDY

2026-06-15 Agriculture / Economy / Environment. MediumSource: Agriculture policy and procurement explainer.

Summary of News

Hybrid paddy is increasing in Punjab and now covers around 10% of paddy area.
Farmers are choosing it because it promises higher yield and shorter crop duration.
But the state, scientists from PAU — Punjab Agricultural University, and rice millers are worried about grain quality and milling issues.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court reportedly cancelled the state’s complete ban on some notified hybrid varieties under the Seeds Act.

Punjab is a major paddy-growing state, but paddy already creates issues like groundwater depletion.
Hybrid paddy came into debate because farmers see it as profitable, while experts worry about quality and procurement problems.
The issue became legal because the state tried to ban some hybrid varieties.

Agriculture: It affects crop choice, productivity and farmer income.
Economy: Poor grain quality can affect milling, procurement and market value.
Governance: Shows conflict between farmer choice, scientific advice and state regulation.

Assuming hybrid paddy means transgenic paddy.

With reference to hybrid paddy, consider the following statements:

Seed saved from a hybrid crop generally does not maintain the same performance in the next generation.
A hybrid crop is necessarily a genetically modified crop.
Seed regulation in India operates through a notified-variety framework under the Seeds Act, 1966.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Full decoder, answer, explanation and elimination clue are available inside the Prelims Antishock Tool.