Direct seeding of rice – INSIGHTSIAS

by

[ad_1]

GS Paper 3:

Topics Covered: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related con

 

Context:

Recently, the Punjab government announced Rs 1,500 incentive per acre for farmers opting for Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR).

 

Background:

Last year, 18% (5.62 lakh hectares) of the total rice area in the state was under DSR against the government target of bringing 10 lakh hectares under it.

 

Need for:

In 2021-22, 31.45 lakh hectares (over 3.1 million hectares) was under paddy and basmati, including 26.60 under non-basmati rice and 4.85 lakh hectares under basmati. The figure was 31.49 lakh hectares in 2020-21 and 31.42 lakh hectares in 2019-20.

  • Around 3,600 litres to 4,125 litres of water is required to grow one kg rice depending upon the paddy variety.
  • Therefore, the DSR technique is receiving a push from the government side as it is a water saving technique.
    • DSR technique can help save 15% to 20% water. In some cases, water saving can reach 22% to 23%.

 

What is Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR)?

Here, the pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine.

There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method. Farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation.

 

How is it different from conventional methods?

In transplanting paddy, farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants.

The nursery seed bed is 5-10% of the area to be transplanted. These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the puddled field.

 

Advantage of DSR:

Water savings. The first irrigation (apart from the pre-sowing rauni) under DSR is necessary only 21 days after sowing. This is unlike in transplanted paddy, where watering has to be done practically daily to ensure submerged/flooded conditions in the first three weeks.

Less Labour. About three labourers are required to transplant one acre of paddy at almost Rs 2,400 per acre.

The cost of herbicides under DSR will not exceed Rs 2,000 per acre.

Reduce methane emissions due to a shorter flooding period and decreased soil disturbance compared to transplanting rice seedlings.

 

Limitations:

  • Non-availability of herbicides.
  • The seed requirement for DSR is also high,8-10 kg/acre, compared to 4-5 kg/acre in transplanting.
  • Further, laser land levelling is compulsory in DSR. This is not so in transplanting.
  • The sowing needs to be done timely so that the plants have come out properly before the monsoon rains arrive.

 

InstaLinks:

Prelims Link:

  1. DSR Technique.
  2. What are herbicides?
  3. India’s largest rice producing states.
  4. Suitable climatic conditions for rice.
  5. Who announces MSP?
  6. What is the green revolution?

Mains Link:

Discuss the significance of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR).

 

Try this Question:

Which of the following is/are the advantages of DSR technique compared to conventional techniques?

  1. It is less water intensive.
  2. It helps reduce methane emissions.
  3. Both A and B.
  4. None of the above. 

Sources: Indian Express.

[ad_2]

Leave a Comment