What is DSR (Direct Seeding of Rice) Technique?

DSR Technique is Direct Seeding of Rice Technique. This year Punjab Government has decided to bring one hectare of land under DSR technique. This is being done as the Government is expecting shortage of migrant labour.

What is DSR Technique?

DSR technique is direct seeding of rice. Here the seeds are sown in the field directly rather than transplanting the seedlings. A tractor powered machine is used to drill the seeds in to the soil.

There is no nursery preparation in DSR technique.

Transplanting Paddy

In the traditional method, where the paddy is transplanted, the farmer first prepare nurseries. The seeds are sown in these nurseries and raised to young plants. After 25-35 days, these seedlings are uprooted and sown in the field.

Benefits of DSR Technique

The technique reduces cost by Rs 6000 per acre

It uses 30% less water. This is because, during transplantation, the field has to be kept irrigated almost daily maintaining a water depth of 4-5 centimetres.

Misconceptions about DSR Technique

The Transplanting method yields 35 quintals per acre. The productivity of DSR technique might be less. According to farmers, it might only give 25 quintals per hectare. However, the Punjab Agricultural University has been stressing on the fact that this is a misconception.

What are issues?

In 2020, the Punjab Government sanctioned 4,000 DSR machines and 800 paddy transplanters with 40% to 50% subsidy.

Around July 2020, farmers complained rodent attacks. Usually in normal transplanting method, the crops are not vulnerable to rodent attacks. This is because, they cannot survive in flooded fields. However, the rodent attack in Punjab is common and every crop faces this issue. Around 2% to 15% damages are caused by rodent attacks in the state every year.

Limitations

• It requires timely sowing needs for the crops to come out properly before monsoon rains.
• Seed requirement is high. In transplanting, it is 4-5 kg per acre and in DSR, it is 8-10 kg per acre.

Month: Current Affairs - May, 2021