Latest news with #KisanSarathi
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- 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.
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Science
- Hans India
Farmers told to embrace innovation, technology in agri
Anantapur: District Collector Dr Vinod Kumar urged farmers to think innovatively and adopt modern technology in agriculture. He was speaking at the district-level launch event of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan organised by the Reddipalli Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) at the Zilla Parishad High School in Deyyalakuntapalli and Venkatapuram villages under Bukkarayasamudram Mandal. During the event, the Collector stated that the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan was being formally launched. He noted that the Kharif season has begun, and under this campaign, scientists will directly interact with farmers to share insights on topics such as balanced fertilizer usage, application of appropriate agricultural technologies, mechanization, and other essential practices to enhance yields. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched this initiative across 700 districts with the involvement of over 2,000 scientific teams. The aim is to share information about innovative technologies and government schemes, collect farmer feedback, and document innovations. The campaign will run until the first week of June, covering two villages per day. Vinod Kumar mentioned that earlier, the agriculture and allied departments including horticulture, AP Seeds, and others conducted meetings on the Kharif action plan. He observed that early rains have arrived this year, with more expected in the first week of June, which is beneficial for groundwater levels. However, he cautioned that excessive rainfall in rainfed areas could lead to crop loss if not planned carefully. He urged farmers to plan their crop cultivation wisely and adopt innovative practices. Scientists from the Krishi Vigyan Kendra will be visiting villages to educate farmers on best practices for the Kharif 2025 season. On this occasion, Dr. Vinod Kumar unveiled the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan and Kisan Sarathi pamphlets. He also distributed soil health cards to farmers. District Agriculture Officer: Uma Maheswaramma, KVK Chief Scientist & Head: SN Maheshwari, KVK Principal Scientist Dr Rajanna, Dr Shashikala and others present.
