Chandigarh, June 26: A major shift toward sustainable rice cultivation has taken root in Punjab, with direct sown paddy expanding to cover 3.41 lakh acres of farmland this season. The upward trend follows a successful prior year where 25,853 cultivators utilized the direct seeding method across 2.93 lakh acres.
The state infrastructure has adjusted its financial frameworks to handle the influx, utilizing Direct Benefit Transfer mechanisms to distribute the Rs 1,500 per acre incentive. The initiative bypasses the conventional, labor-heavy seedling nursery stage, allowing farmers to reduce overall operational expenses while preserving vital natural resources.
The administration has deployed specialized field teams to manage on-the-spot verification and documentation to prevent processing delays. “With an increased budget of Rs 40 crore for the year 2026-27, we are further intensifying efforts to reduce the cost of farmers as well as secure the agricultural future of Punjab,” Agriculture Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian declared during a progress review.
Prospective participants have until the end of June to submit their details via the designated departmental platform. Senior agricultural officials affirmed that because planting activities generally stretch into the middle of next month, the state expects additional communities to adopt the conservation model before the seasonal window closes.
