44% rise in area under DSR in Pb, says minister
Punjab sees 44% rise in direct-seeded rice area, up from 1.7 lakh acres in 2023 to 2.48 lakh acres this year. Muktsar Sahib leads with 78,468 acres, followed by Fazilka (75,824 acres), Amritsar (17,913 acres), Ferozepur (17,644 acres), and Bathinda (12,760 acres). The government offers ₹1,500 per acre to farmers adopting water-conserving DSR over traditional paddy transplanting, says Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, highlighting the state’s progress in promoting sustainable farming practices.
Chandigarh: Punjab agriculture and farmers welfare minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian said on Sunday that there had been a 44% rise in area under direct-seeded rice (DSR) in the state when compared to last year.
The minister added that acreage sown using water-conserving DSR had risen from 1.7 lakh acres in 2023 to 2.48 lakh acres now. Muktsar Sahib district has topped the state for adopting DSR, using it on 78,468 acres.
It is followed by Fazilka (75,824 acres), Amritsar (17,913 acres), Ferozepur (17,644 acres), and Bathinda (12,760 acres).
Govt has been offering Rs 1,500 per acre as financial assistance to farmers to choose DSR over traditional paddy transplanting, he said.