On Sunday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged farmers to save water and electricity by using the environmentally friendly and economically viable direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique during the next Kharif season.
Mann made the statements while chairing a Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) meeting, which was led by Darshan Pal.
Mann sought input from the representatives of 23 farmers' organizations present at the session in order to recommend to the state government that the agriculture sector be provided with a staggering power supply to enable farmers to sow paddy using the DSR technique and traditional paddy transplantation.
The chief minister advocated staggered power delivery to minimize peak loads during the paddy planting season, proposing proportional power supply by Punjab state power company limited (PSPCL) based on demand per region, dividing the state into four zones.
Mann also asked officers to visit communities to encourage farmers to use the DSR approach to preserve water and electricity, urging them to check the rapidly declining water table.
DSR Technique In Recharging Groundwater
Concerned about the findings of the PAU study, the CM stated that it is past time to switch from paddy transplantation to the environmentally friendly and financially feasible DSR technique, which would help save groundwater by 15 to 20% while also increasing charging up groundwater by 10 to 15%. He also claims that the new technology will save Rs. 3,000 per acre in input costs, such as labor.
Mann urged farmers to diversify their agriculture by planting other crops such as sugarcane, maize, pulses, and oilseeds.
He assured them that the state government would take up the matter of providing MSP on these commodities with the Central government shortly. State agencies, such as Markfed, would also be involved in the acquisition of alternative crops on MSP, he said.
