Punjab Targets 5 Lakh Acres Under Water-Saving DSR Paddy Technique

Punjab has set an ambitious target to bring 5 lakh acres under the Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique during the 2026-27 kharif season , with the state government earmarking Rs 40 crore to promote the water-saving farming method.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the initiative aims to strengthen the state’s fight against the rapidly declining groundwater table while reducing cultivation costs for farmers.

Sharing details of the scheme, Khudian said that during the 2025 kharif season , around 23,410 farmers adopted the DSR method across 2,35,899 acres of paddy fields. The government disbursed more than Rs 35.38 crore as financial assistance at the rate of Rs 1,500 per acre directly into the bank accounts of eligible farmers.

Calling the programme a “farmer-led revolution in water conservation,” the minister said the encouraging response from farmers has prompted the government to expand the initiative further in the coming season.

The Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR) technique involves sowing paddy seeds directly into the field using specialised machines, instead of the traditional practice of raising seedlings in nurseries and transplanting them into flooded fields. Unlike conventional paddy cultivation, DSR eliminates the need for puddling and continuous waterlogging.

Agriculture experts say the method can reduce irrigation water usage by nearly 15-20 per cent , making it a crucial intervention for a water-stressed state like Punjab. The technique also helps farmers cut labour costs significantly, as transplanting paddy manually requires a large workforce during the peak sowing season.

Apart from saving water and labour, DSR can help reduce fuel consumption and lower methane emissions caused by flooded paddy fields, contributing to more sustainable farming practices.

Khudian urged farmers to register early through the already operational online DSR portal to avail themselves of the government incentive. He said the state is committed to balancing agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability as Punjab faces increasing pressure on its groundwater resources.