Punjab aims to bring five lakh acres under direct sowing of rice technique

IANS May 15, 2025 160 views

In an environmental initiative, Punjab, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is targeting five lakh acres for direct sowing of rice (DSR) this season to preserve groundwater and increase farmer incomes. The DSR method promises to reduce water use by 15-20% and cut labor costs for the farmers. Mann encourages farmers to participate and benefit from the financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per acre being offered by the government. This effort reflects the state's commitment to tackling both agrarian challenges and the depletion of precious groundwater resources.

"This initiative aims at promoting sustainable agriculture and conserving groundwater." - Bhagwant Mann
Chandigarh, May 15: In a step aimed at saving 15-20 per cent groundwater, the Punjab government on Thursday started the direct sowing of rice (DSR) to check the depletion of groundwater besides supplementing the income of farmers in a big way.

Key Points

1

Punjab targets five lakh acres for DSR rice sowing this season

2

Mann emphasizes sustainable agriculture and groundwater conservation

3

Farmers receive Rs 1,500 per acre subsidy for adopting DSR

4

DSR reduces groundwater use by 15-20% and cuts labour costs significantly

This time, the government aims to bring five lakh acres under this technique.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, the Chief Minister said the government has taken several initiatives to safeguard the interests of the farmers.

He said as a part of this endeavour only, the state government has encouraged DSR technique of paddy cultivation as a part of which sowing under the scheme has been started from Thursday.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the government has set a target of bringing five lakh acres under the DSR technique during this kharif season.

Urging the farmers to make maximum use of this scheme, the Chief Minister said that this initiative is aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture on one hand and conserving the groundwater on the other.

Mann said the government is giving a financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per acre to the farmers adopting DSR.

He said the government has also kept a budgetary allocation of Rs 40 crore for this purpose in 2025-26, adding the farmers interested in it can register for the DSR scheme at online portal agrimachinerypb.com till June 30.

The Chief Minister said this scheme will save 15-20 per cent of the groundwater, besides saving the additional expenses on agriculture.

The DSR technique is a big boon as it will help checking the depleting groundwater levels besides reducing labour costs of approximately Rs 3,500 per acre.

He said the farmers should come forward and adopt this scheme and discharge their duty towards their motherland in a befitting manner.

The Chief Minister said the government has always been sensitive towards steering the farmers out of the prevailing agrarian crisis and for saving the precious groundwater of the state.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Finally some concrete steps to save Punjab's groundwater! The DSR technique seems promising. My uncle in Sangrur tried it last season and saved nearly 30% water. The ₹1500/acre incentive is just the cherry on top. 👏
P
Priya M.
Good initiative but implementation is key. Many small farmers in our village don't have access to the required machinery. Government should arrange community DSR equipment at block level. Otherwise only big farmers will benefit.
H
Harpreet S.
As a farmer's daughter, I know how crucial water conservation is for Punjab's future. But will the yield be same with DSR? That's what most farmers are worried about. Govt should organize more field demonstrations to build trust.
A
Amarjeet B.
Bhagwant Mann government deserves praise for this progressive step! Saving water AND reducing costs - it's a win-win. Hope other states learn from Punjab's example. Our farmers are the backbone of India's food security after all.
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Neetu R.
The portal for registration is a good digital initiative, but what about farmers who aren't tech-savvy? My father still goes to patwari office for everything. Ground-level awareness camps are equally important.
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Gurvinder P.
₹3500/acre labor cost saving is huge! But what about the initial investment in new equipment? The subsidy should cover that too. Otherwise poor farmers won't be able to switch to DSR despite the long-term benefits.

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Tags:
Punjab rice DSR Bhagwant Mann groundwater conservation sustainable agriculture
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