Punjab's Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, announced that the state government has transferred Rs. 27.79 crore to 20,229 farmers who adopted the water-saving Direct Sowing Rice (DSR) technique during the 2024 Kharif season.
He revealed that 2.53 lakh acres were directly sown with paddy in 2024, marking a 47 percent increase compared to the 1.72 lakh acres in the 2023 Kharif season. Rs. 4.34 crore was initially disbursed to over 9,500 farmers in March 2025, and the remaining amount has now been transferred to the beneficiaries' bank accounts.
The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, has been actively promoting the adoption of Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) to conserve water and encourage sustainable agriculture practices.
Minister Khudian explained that the state government offers an incentive of Rs. 1,500 per acre to farmers who use the DSR method, eliminating the need for transplanting seedlings and significantly reducing water consumption. This initiative aims to combat groundwater depletion and supports the state's efforts towards agricultural sustainability, water conservation, and environmental protection.