Punjab pushes Direct Sowing of Rice to tackle falling groundwater levels
Punjab will expand Direct Sowing of Rice across five lakh acres in 2026-27 to combat severe groundwater depletion, with 111 blocks over-exploited. Farmers adopting DSR will receive Rs 1,500 per acre under a Rs 40-crore scheme promoting water-saving and agriculture
With Punjab emerging as one of the most groundwater-stressed states in the country, the state government has decided to intensify efforts to tackle the rapid decline in groundwater levels by expanding the adoption of Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR), a water-saving farming technique.
Punjab reportedly extracts 156.36 per cent of its annual groundwater recharge. Of the state’s 153 administrative blocks, 111 have been classified as “over-exploited”. In simple terms, it means that groundwater extraction in 72.5 per cent of the blocks far exceeds natural recharge.
It is in this context that the state government has been promoting direct seeding of rice. For the 2026–27 crop season, it has set a target of bringing five lakh acres of agricultural land under DSR cultivation across the state.
Under the scheme, farmers adopting the technique will receive financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per acre through an online portal. The government has earmarked Rs 40 crore for implementation of the DSR programme during the upcoming financial year.
According to official figures, during 2025–26, as many as 23,410 farmers adopted the water-conservation technology and collectively received financial assistance amounting to Rs 35.38 crore.
The initiative forms part of the Government of Punjab’s broader strategy to conserve groundwater resources, reduce dependence on traditional paddy transplantation, and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Experts believe DSR technology can significantly reduce water consumption, labour costs and electricity usage compared to conventional paddy cultivation methods, making it an important tool in addressing Punjab’s agrarian and environmental challenges.
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Source : The Tribune
