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Updated: May 15, 2025 07:02
In a bold move towards sustainable farming, Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian has said that the state will cover five lakh acres under the Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) method for paddy cultivation during this Kharif season. The move, a major increase from earlier years, is aimed at saving groundwater and minimizing the environmental footprint of conventional paddy cultivation.
From May 15, DSR paddy sowing shall be permitted all over Punjab by farmers. Encouraging farmer adoption, a Rs 1,500-acre financial incentive per acre is being provided by the state government for all farmers implementing this water-conserving technique. The support for basmati rice growers shall also be continued, which helps to make the scheme more accessible and appealing to more farmers.
A committed budget of Rs 40 crore has been provided for the financial year 2025-26 to support this ambitious goal. Interested farmers can register for the DSR scheme on the official portal between May 10 and June 30.
The DSR method has already registered impressive growth in Punjab. In 2024, paddy was sown directly on 2.53 lakh acres-increase of 47 percent from 1.72 lakh acres in 2023. During the previous year, more than 21,000 farmers were given a total of Rs 29.02 crore as incentives for adopting DSR, which shows the government's intent to reward sustainable practices.
Minister Khuddian emphasized the various advantages of DSR, such as a 15-20 percent saving in water usage essential for a state suffering from dwindling groundwater resources and saving on labor costs by around Rs 3,500 per acre. The initial official inspection of DSR fields, including those cultivating basmati, will be conducted from July 1 to July 15.
Officials are hopeful that the widened incentives and established advantages will drive the transition towards green paddy farming at a faster pace, making Punjab a forerunner in agri-innovation.
Sources: Babushahi, Rediff Money, The Week, Yes Punjab
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