Why direct seeding of rice (DSR) is yet to pick up in Punjab

Last Updated19/06/2024

The Punjab government has been actively promoting the direct seeding of rice (DSR), or ‘tar-wattar’ technique.
This can reduce water use by 15% to 20%.
Moreover, DSR requires less labor and matures 7 to 10 days faster, giving farmers more time to manage paddy straw.
Despite these benefits, and government incentives this technique is yet to see widespread adoption in Punjab.
Last year, only 1.73 lakh acres of the 79 lakh acres under paddy cultivation in Punjab saw the use of this technique.
Even the government’s target of bringing 7 lakh acres under DSR this year represents less than 10% of Punjab’s total rice acreage.

Traditionally, paddy farmers prepare nurseries where seeds are first sown.
- After 25-35 days, young seedlings are uprooted and replanted, in the main field.
- While this method is labor and water-intensive, it is known to maximize yields and maintain better crop health.
The first round of irrigation is carried out 21 days after sowing, followed by 14-17 more rounds at 7-10 day intervals, depending on soil type and the quality of the monsoon.
The final irrigation takes place 10 days before harvest.
The traditional method requires 25-27 irrigations in total.

Experts emphasise that soil suitability is crucial for the successful implementation of DSR. There are two factors here.
- First is the texture of the soil.
- It is more suitable for heavy or medium-to-heavy-textured soils.
This is primarily because light-textured soils do not retain water well.
Simply put, heavy-textured soils contain more clay and less sand, whereas light-textured soils have less clay and more sand. Also 80% of Punjab’s soil is light-textured.

The iron content of the soil also determines the suitability of DSR. Soil with severe iron deficiency, and weed problems must not be cultivated using this technique.
Lack of iron content can severely impact yields and lead to major financial losses for farmers. Sometimes, farmers might even have to transplant the crop anyway, after a month or so, leading to DSR losing its labour-saving benefits.

In this method, seeds are directly drilled into the fields, eliminating the need for nursery preparation and transplantation.
A basic lack of awareness and understanding is holding DSR back.
After using the method on unsuitable soil, farmers do not get the expected yields.
They then develop apprehensions regarding DSR and revert to their traditional puddling method.
Crucially, negative feedback spreads quickly by word of mouth, further dissuading other farmers for whom DSR might have been ideal.
Extensive training and a ready helpline be provided, to handhold the farmers through the whole process, from pre-sowing to harvesting.
Additionally, if farmers incur losses during the initial years of adoption, adequate compensation should also be provided, so as to not disincentive them from trying again.