Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that a special committee will be formed to review the state government’s request for the denotification of hybrid paddy seeds. However, no timeline was provided for when a decision might be made. Punjab is seeking immediate denotification to prevent farmers from planting these varieties in the upcoming kharif season.
According to a report from BusinessLine on May 8, the state government’s demand faces reluctance from the Centre. Concerns have been raised about lower head rice recovery attributed to increased grain breakage during milling and the conversion ratio from paddy to rice, but these allegations have not been scientifically substantiated.
Punjab has formally requested the Centre to denotify all non-basmati hybrid paddy varieties to restrict their sale under existing state laws. The key issue is that certain hybrid rice varieties reportedly yield below the 67 percent rice out-turn mandated for millers supplying to the Food Corporation of India (FCI).
In August 2025, the Punjab and Haryana High Court overturned the state government’s ban on hybrid paddy seeds imposed in April 2025, although it permitted restrictions on the sale of non-notified varieties. Since these varieties were notified by the Centre, their sale can only be restricted following denotification.
The Centre is proceeding cautiously, as seed companies may contest any actions that lack a solid legal basis. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has assessed the demand and discovered that 23 hybrid rice varieties released since 2015 meet minimum milling standards.
On May 13, Mann met Chouhan to request intervention regarding the denotification, aiming to facilitate smooth procurement and lifting operations in Punjab for the upcoming kharif season.
Additional matters discussed included the assurance of continuous fertilizer supply, Punjab’s representation in the Central Seed Committee, and wheat seed subsidy allocations for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Both leaders also addressed groundwater conservation and crop diversification among other agricultural issues.
Chouhan assured that the Central Government would provide comprehensive support to Punjab in all agriculture-related initiatives, emphasizing assistance for agriculture and water conservation, as well as the benefits of missions related to cotton, pulses, oilseeds, and horticulture to bolster the state’s agricultural sector.
Published on May 14, 2026.
