BATHINDA, April 3 -- After a decade of research and field trials, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has developed a high-yielding variety of parmal rice, PR132, audited as economically viable for all stakeholders. The new variety will be released for the forthcoming kharif season, with the PAU's extension team tasked with promoting it for limited sowing for the first year.

Experts say PR132 has the maximum yield of all other varieties. Its irrigation requirement and residue generation are like those of other non-basmati varieties.

PAU's rice breeder GS Mangat said PR132 is nitrogen-use efficient and requires 25% less urea than other varieties.

"Experts have calculated the average yield of PR132 at 31.5 quintals per acre while an...