Agronomicand economic impacts of direct seeded rice in Punjab

Abstract

Labour scarcity, increasing labour costs and declining ground water table have forced farmers in Indian Punjab to find an alternative to resource intensive puddled transplanted rice (PTR). Dry-seeded rice (DSR) was introduced in 2009–10 to address these problems. The impact analysis of this new technology was undertaken by using a comprehensive questionnaire during 2013 through a field survey of farmers who had adopted DSR during 2009 to 2012 in 21 villages in three districts (Bathinda, Faridkot, Sri Muktsar Sahib). The number of farmers who had adopted DSR increased from 10 in 2009 to 211 in 2012; over this time, 11% of these farmers had shifted completely to DSR. The adoption rate of DSR was higher for coarse rice than basmati rice, and adoption was the highest among farmers with medium and large landholding. DSR saved 14 person-days/ha and 18 to 20% irrigation water compared to PTR. To begin with DSR had 2 to 5% yield penalty as compared to PTR. However, as farmers became knowledgeable about DSR especially in sowing and weed control techniques, yield penalty was overcome within one to two years. The productivity of succeeding wheat crop was 5% higher when it was sequenced with DSR than after PTR, thereby increasing higher net returns. The total net returns from DSRwheat system exceeded PTR-wheat system by INR 5050 to 8100/ha. The results of this survey are consistent with experimental data. Further improvements in planting machinery, weed management practices, and enhancement of grower skills through training programs were identified as the key areas for accelerating the adoption of this new production technology at scale.