The North News
Chandigarh, July 23
Punjab has recorded an 11.86 percent increase in the area under Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), a water-saving agricultural technique promoted by the state to conserve its rapidly depleting groundwater. Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that so far this year, over 2.83 lakh acres have been brought under DSR – up from 2.53 lakh acres last year. He added that the figure is likely to rise further as paddy sowing is still underway.
The state government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has been incentivising the DSR technique by offering ₹1,500 per acre to farmers who adopt it. This financial assistance has already been transferred directly to the bank accounts of 24,032 farmers during the Kharif 2024 season. Khudian reaffirmed the Punjab government’s commitment to promoting sustainable and climate-resilient farming practices. He also lauded the efforts of the Agriculture Department in spreading awareness about the benefits of DSR.
Administrative Secretary for Agriculture, Dr. Basant Garg, said the department has launched training camps, field demonstrations, and awareness campaigns to familiarise farmers with the DSR method. The DSR technique, unlike traditional transplanting, allows rice to be sown directly without puddling the field, significantly reducing water consumption. This method is being seen as critical in addressing Punjab’s groundwater crisis, especially in the state’s central belt where over-extraction has led to severe depletion.
