Punjab announces Rs 1,500/acre aid to farmers opting for direct seeding of rice
The Punjab government has announced Rs 1,500 per acre as financial aid to farmers opting for the direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique in the coming Kharif season.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann while announcing this decision on Saturday stated that farmers can start sowing paddy from May 20, using the DSR technique.
Notably, in the DSR technique, the seeds are sown in the field directly rather than transplanting seedlings. Punjab government's this decision will wean away farmers from transplantation of paddy, which is detrimental to the environment and makes it a groundwater-guzzling crop.
Meanwhile, the direct seeding technique would mitigate the labour concerns faced by farmers ahead of each Kharif season. Since labour for transplantation is becoming more expensive, using DSR would help farmers save money on production costs.
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Addressing farmers, the Punjab CM said, “As you are aware of the fast depletion of groundwater due to paddy cultivation, some districts in Punjab have already been categorised in the red zone.”
He further added that agriculture experts have come up with a paddy cultivation technique that could help save groundwater.
“Instead of using conventional paddy sowing methods, if we use the DSR technique for sowing paddy, we can save groundwater for our future generations,” Mann added.
According to a statement issued in Parliament earlier this year by the GoI, 117 blocks in the state are categorized as "overexploited."
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-PTC News 
Notably, in the DSR technique, the seeds are sown in the field directly rather than transplanting seedlings. Punjab government's this decision will wean away farmers from transplantation of paddy, which is detrimental to the environment and makes it a groundwater-guzzling crop.
