Chandigarh, May 16: Taking a decisive step toward sustainable agriculture and water conservation, the Punjab government on Thursday rolled out the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique for the upcoming kharif season. The initiative, expected to conserve up to 20% of the state’s groundwater, also aims to reduce farming costs and support long-term agrarian viability.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced that the state has targeted 5 lakh acres under DSR this year. “This initiative is a catalyst for checking the further depletion of groundwater and will supplement the income of farmers in a big way,” he said in an official statement.
DSR is a water-efficient technique that allows farmers to sow paddy seeds directly into the soil, eliminating the traditional transplanting method that relies heavily on water-intensive nursery practices.
To encourage uptake, the state will offer financial support of ₹1,500 per acre to farmers who adopt the method. The government has allocated ₹40 crore for the scheme in the 2025–26 financial year. Farmers can register for the scheme between May 10 and June 30 on the portal agrimachinerypb.com.
Highlighting the economic and ecological advantages, Mann said, “DSR not only conserves water but also reduces labour costs by around ₹3,500 per acre. It is a big boon for Punjab as it supports both environmental and economic sustainability.”
The chief minister also acknowledged the toll traditional paddy cultivation has taken on Punjab’s natural resources. “Punjab played a key role in making the country self-reliant in food production, but it came at the expense of our soil and groundwater,” he said.
He expressed concern over current challenges in the agriculture sector, including low minimum support prices (MSP) and escalating input costs. Calling for a shift in mindset, Mann urged farmers to embrace DSR not just for individual gain but as a “duty toward their motherland” and a collective response to the ongoing agrarian crisis.
The DSR campaign is part of Punjab’s broader strategy to align agricultural practices with ecological resilience while easing the economic burden on farmers.
