PAU launches wheat variety for nutritious ‘atta’ biscuits

Among many varieties launched by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) this year, PBW Biscuit 1 (wheat) aims to boost agriculture-based industry.

Besides PBW Biscuit 1, other new crop varieties released by the university are J 1008 (fodder maize), PCB 167 (fodder), Punjab Cheena 1 (proso millet), OL 17 (oats), PGSH 2155 (canola-type gobhi sarson), PHR 127 (raya), PBHL 56 (brinjal), Punjab Mithas (watermelon), Punjab Amrit (muskmelon), Konkan Bahadoli and Goma Priyanka (jamun).

The PBW Biscuit 1 variety has been inspired with the love for ‘atta’ biscuits in Punjab. To ensure that these are soft and crispy, the specialised variety promises to enhance the quality of biscuits and increase farmers’ income when cultivated for the food processing industry.

This year, the PAU has developed a breeder seed and it will be sold to the farmers from the next rabi season.

“The PBW Biscuit 1 is not for routine usage but can be grown if wheat is to be used for producing biscuits. Growing such varieties is a step towards developing agro industry,” said Dr Satbir Singh, VC, PAU.

With millets gaining in importance in the recent past, the PAU has developed Punjab Cheena 1 (proso millet), a short-duration variety. It possesses good quantities of protein, starch-resistant calcium, iron, low- glycemic index and low-glycemic load.

Another variety developed and recommended by the PAU for the rabi season is OL 17 (oats). A primarily a fodder crop, oats are commonly used as a breakfast cereal now.

In the first year of developing OL 17 and Punjab Cheena 1, the PAU sold 213 quintal seed of oats and 1.5 quintal of millets.

Farmer Gurbaksh Singh from Malakpur village, who is growing millets, said the best part was that these could be grown on all types of land and were more sustainable alternative to rice due to low water requirement, pest resilience and profitability.