08 February 2025, Punjab: Punjab Agricultural University’s KVK Kapurthala is spearheading efforts to revive groundnut cultivation as an alternative to spring maize, addressing groundwater depletion concerns in the district. Kapurthala’s traditional crop rotation of potato/spring maize/paddy spans approximately 12,000 hectares, with a cropping intensity of 300%. In 2024, the area under spring maize reached 12,100 hectares, and this figure is expected to rise further due to its demand in ethanol production. However, the high water consumption of spring maize poses a sustainability challenge.
To promote crop diversification and water conservation, PAU KVK Kapurthala has initiated demonstrations on farmers’ fields using the J-87 groundnut variety, which is well-suited for the region’s light-textured soils. This variety, recommended by PAU Ludhiana for the spring season, boasts a yield potential of 15.3 quintals per acre and matures within 112 days. To ensure widespread adoption, KVK Kapurthala has distributed J-87 seeds among farmers and is conducting hands-on demonstrations to showcase optimal cultivation practices.
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