In a bid to conserve rapidly depleting groundwater and promote sustainable farming practices, the Punjab Government has renewed its financial incentive of Rs 1,500 per acre for farmers adopting the Direct Seeding of Paddy (DSR) technique during the 2026-27 Kharif season.
Dr Kulwant Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Faridkot, said the registration portal for the scheme is now live and applications will be accepted till June 15. Farmers can register their land details on the official state portal.
Highlighting the benefits of the DSR method, Dr Singh said direct sowing reduces water consumption by 15 to 20 per cent compared to the traditional transplantation method.
“DSR is a critical tool to prevent further depletion of the groundwater table,” he said. “Since sowing begins earlier under DSR, crops mature sooner, giving farmers more time to manage paddy stubble and reducing the chances of residue burning.”
The scheme witnessed encouraging participation in Faridkot district last year, with 604 farmers adopting the technique. A total incentive of Rs 76.39 lakh was transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Dr Singh urged more farmers to adopt the technique this season to maximise both financial and environmental benefits.
Officials said DSR also helps farmers cut input costs by reducing labour requirements, diesel consumption and irrigation needs. Unlike traditional paddy transplantation, DSR eliminates the need for nursery preparation and manual replanting, helping farmers cope with labour shortages and rising wages.
The technique also reduces electricity consumption for irrigation pumps, thereby lowering the state’s subsidy burden on free agricultural power.
Dr Singh added that DSR-grown paddy matures 10 to 12 days earlier than transplanted crops, easing pressure on mandis during procurement season and providing additional time between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing.
