Latest news with #DSR
Hans India
12 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Punjab sees rise in direct seeding of rice technique
Chandigarh: Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Wednesday that in an advancement of the government's efforts to conserve groundwater through sustainable agricultural practices, the state saw 11.86 per cent increase in area dedicated to direct seeding of rice (DSR) compared to last year. He said paddy has been sown using water-conserving DSR technique at over 2.83 lakh acres this year, up from 2.53 lakh acres in the last year. He expressed hope that the area under DSR will rise further as paddy sowing is still going on. The minister said the government has been offering Rs 1,500 per acre to farmers adopting the DSR method. He said the financial assistance was transferred into the bank accounts of 24,032 farmers who adopted the DSR technique during the kharif season of 2024. Minister Khudian reaffirmed the government's commitment of encouraging farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. He also congratulated the Agriculture Department officials for promoting the water-saving method. Administrative Secretary (Agriculture and Farmers Welfare) Basant Garg said that the Agriculture Department has taken various proactive steps to promote the direct seeding of rice. The department has been organising awareness campaigns and farmer training camps to provide hands-on knowledge, besides conducting field demonstrations to showcase the technique's effectiveness and sensitise farmers about the advantages of DSR. With a land area of only three per cent of the net cultivated land of the country, Punjab contributes 25-35 per cent of rice and 38-50 per cent of wheat to the central pool of food grain. The state ranks fourth in the world in terms of productivity and first in India among all the other states. In neighboring Haryana, the paddy is currently sown over 34 lakh acres in Haryana. Of this, 57 per cent of the area is under basmati, which matures two weeks later than the non-basmati type.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Sustainable rice production: 10,000 farmers to receive DSR training from IIRR
Nearly 10,000 paddy farmers will soon undergo training in village and campus settings under the 'Promotion of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for Sustainable Rice Production' project launched by the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) with financial support from the SBI Foundation. 'We are conducting this training for farmers to promote mechanised Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) for sustainable rice production and improve farmers' income in the erstwhile Khammam and Nalgonda districts on a pilot basis. As part of this project, funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by SBI Foundation, 500 selected farmers will also receive field-level support, including seed support and pest management,' said Director of ICAR-IIRR, R.M. Sundaram. Two vehicles, 'SBI Kisan Sarathi' and 'SBI Krishi Darshan', were flagged off to support DSR training activities on Monday. While 'Kisan Sarathi' provides free transportation for farmers to attend trainings at ICAR-IIRR and KVKs, 'Krishi Darshan' is a mobile awareness campaign vehicle equipped with audio-visual aids and a dedicated trainer conducting village-level training sessions and offering soil testing kit support. According to the Director of ICAR-IIRR, the IoT-enabled Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) sensors are installed in fields to monitor water levels in real-time and optimise irrigation practices as part of the project. A rainout shelter equipped with automated weather sensors has been established for training and research on DSR production at the ICAR-IIRR Hyderabad campus. SBI Foundation Managing Director, Sanjay Prakash, said that the foundation is committed to promoting sustainable agricultural practices through its CSR initiative. The project was informally launched during the last Yasangi season in these districts, and training will be provided to farmers over a period of another year. IIRR is also developing 12 paddy varieties suitable for the DSR method. What is Direct Seeded Rice? Direct Seeded Rice is a method of rice cultivation where seeds are sown directly in the field without raising a nursery and transplanting seedlings. It can be practiced in two main ways: sowing rice seeds directly in dry soil using a seed drill attached to a tractor before the onset of monsoon, or sprouting rice seeds and broadcasting them manually or using a drum seeder or tractor-mounted seed drills in wet fields. According to a senior scientist, in both methods, seed requirement is only 8-10 kg per acre, nearly 8-10 kg less than traditional transplanting, saving ₹400-₹500 per acre. Additionally, the absence of transplanting reduces dependency on labour, addressing labour shortages and lowering planting costs by ₹4,000-₹5,000 per acre. Since DSR avoids transplanting shock, the crop matures 10 days earlier, providing an opportunity for timely commencement of the second crop.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Despite govt's push for alternatives, water-guzzling paddy expands by 35% in Haryana in ten years
Despite consistent efforts by the Haryana government to promote crop diversification, the area under paddy cultivation has increased by over 35 per cent in the last ten years — from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024. Data accessed by The Indian Express revealed that paddy cultivation expanded steadily between 2015 and 2024, with only two exceptions. The area under paddy grew from 13.53 lakh hectares in 2015 to 15.58 lakh hectares in 2019. It then witnessed marginal declines in 2020 (15.25 lakh hectares) and 2021 (15.33 lakh hectares). However, the upward trend resumed thereafter — rising to 16.61 lakh hectares in 2022, 17.77 lakh hectares in 2023, and reaching 18.37 lakh hectares in 2024. Notably, the dip in paddy cultivation during 2020 and 2021 coincided with the launch of the government's scheme 'Mera Pani Meri Virasat', aimed at encouraging farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to alternative crops. The scheme included awareness campaigns on water conservation and a financial incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre for those opting for less water-consuming crops such as pulses, cotton, maize, and horticulture (including vegetables and fruits). However, the temporary decline failed to sustain. Farmer leaders cited profitability as the key deterrent. 'Currently, in terms of income, farmers find paddy the most financially viable option, so they are hesitant to leave it,' Mandeep Nathwan, a farm leader from Fatehabad district, said. According to farmer leaders, paddy yields income of nearly Rs 80,000 per acre, with farmers able to retain approximately Rs 50,000 per acre after expenses. Rakesh Bains, a farmer from Kurukshetra district, added: 'if I cultivate paddy, I would get remuneration of Rs 80,000 per acre. But if I opt for an alternative crop, I can earn a maximum of Rs 50,000 per acre'. 'The government talks a lot about alternative crops but does not offer better marketing facilities for them. If I cultivate maize, then I face a lot of difficulties in selling it,' he added. Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran CEO Ravinder Singh Chauhan acknowledged: 'farmers don't hesitate to adopt other crops — provided they are as remunerative as the competitive ones. Better market access and availability of seeds for alternative crops may encourage this shift'. With paddy transplantation underway for the current season, officials are optimistic about improved outcomes. The government has raised the diversification incentive from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per acre. 'This may yield good results. We expect that the area under traditional paddy cultivation may come down. Even farmers with limited irrigation resources are adopting direct seeded rice (DSR), which uses up to 90 per cent less water than the conventional puddling method,' an official said. Farmers are also being offered Rs 4,000 per acre to adopt DSR. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday directed senior officials to prepare an action plan for food processing industries based on region-specific crops. According to officials, the goal is to motivate farmers to diversify beyond traditional crops and align with market demand. He instructed that small clusters be identified and centres of excellence developed accordingly. Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shyam Singh Rana recently stated that the government aims to promote crop diversification across 4 lakh acres in 22 districts, with dhaincha (sesbania bispinosa) playing a key role. Under a new initiative to reduce dependency on chemical fertilisers, farmers cultivating Dhaincha as green manure will receive Rs 1,000 per acre. 'Over 3 lakh farmers are expected to benefit from this effort,' he added. Former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier highlighted the state's water challenges. He stated that Haryana's total water availability is 20.93 lakh crore litres, while demand stands at 34.96 lakh crore litres — leaving a gap of nearly 14 lakh crore litres. He emphasised that 86 per cent of water is consumed by agriculture and 5 per cent by horticulture, underlining the urgent need for conservation. Sukhbir Siwach's extensive and in-depth coverage of farmer agitation against three farm laws during 2020-21 drew widespread attention. ... Read More
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
IRRI scientists work on sensor-based irrigation to boost water efficiency
Varanasi: Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) are conducting field-level research on sensor-based irrigation management to boost water efficiency in direct-seeded rice (DSR) cultivation. The research aims to enhance climate resilience in eastern Uttar Pradesh by assessing soil moisture dynamics, crop water requirements, and irrigation scheduling in DSR systems. A team of experts from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), including senior water scientist Anton Urfels, conducted a technical assessment in Paniyara village to study soil moisture dynamics under different irrigation regimes in direct-seeded rice (DSR) fields. The interdisciplinary team, comprising agronomists, GIS specialists, agricultural economists, and water scientists, aimed to identify critical soil moisture thresholds for timely and efficient irrigation. At the core of this research is the integration of in-field soil moisture sensors, automated water depth monitoring systems, and drone-based spatial mapping tools to collect high-resolution temporal and spatial datasets. These tools are being used to analyse moisture variability, crop response patterns, and water use efficiency at different crop stages. The research team is also evaluating how alternative irrigation intervals and timing affect both crop growth and soil health under direct seeding conditions. "A data-driven approach to irrigation management is critical for sustaining rice production in regions facing increasing water stress. Through the integration of advanced monitoring tools and site-specific research, IRRI is committed to delivering scalable solutions that not only conserve water, but also enhance productivity and climate resilience for smallholder farmers," said Sudhanshu, director, ISARC. He said that the findings from this research will contribute to a more refined understanding of water demand dynamics in DSR cultivation and help establish localised irrigation advisories. Ultimately, the goal is to enable the transition to climate-resilient, resource-efficient rice production systems across the region. Anton emphasised that a detailed understanding of spatial and temporal soil moisture variability is essential for building resilient irrigation strategies in water-scarce regions. It was further noted that when combined with geospatial analytics, sensor-based data can enable the development of location-specific protocols that improve irrigation efficiency and optimise resource use at scale.
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
ISARC's new tractor to aid precise weeding of rice fields
1 2 Varanasi: Scientists at the International Rice Research Institute - South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) have developed a tractor-operated dry and wet land weeder that can be operated using narrow wheels on any tractor, ensuring rice plants remain undisturbed while enabling precise weeding. They conducted the first successful demonstration on Tuesday in farmers' direct-seeded rice (DSR) fields in Paniyara village of Varanasi district. According to IRRI scientist R K Malik, weed control using the newly developed tractor-operated weeder requires fitting the tractor with specially designed narrow wheels, ensuring safe operation between the rice rows. Spacing between the rows is maintained at 25cms during sowing. The weeder delivers optimal results when used 25 to 30 days after sowing, suppressing weed growth. The tractor can easily cover 1 acre land in approximately one hour. Being lightweight machinery, the machine removes weeds effectively even in low-moisture soils, saving labour and improving quality of the soil. The technology not only enhances efficiency and sustainability of DSR cultivation but also helps address the issue of limited labour availability. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle Japanese hair growth method for men and women's scalp Hair's Rich Learn More Undo Additionally, IRRI scientist Rabe Yahaya explained that timely mechanical weeding provides effective weed control in DSR fields, reducing dependence on chemical herbicides and lowering overall cultivation costs. He said that because of climate change and irregular rainfall patterns, paddy farmers continue to face significant challenges. Traditional methods keep farmers dependent on monsoon and require excessive water and labour, resulting in higher production costs. In contrast, adopting direct-seeded rice techniques is helping farmers reduce input expenses and achieve better profitability. For Kharif 2025 season, ISARC conducted cluster demonstrations of DSR across more than 500 acres in eight districts of eastern UP. Weed management plays crucial role in success of direct-seeded rice farming. In the absence of proper weed management, excessive weed growth can negatively impact crop yields.
