Agri Deptt introduces DSR Culture to save labour

First time DSR Culture adopted in Kathua district for sowing paddy seed on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Pardeep
First time DSR Culture adopted in Kathua district for sowing paddy seed on Tuesday. -Excelsior/Pardeep

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, May 26: To overcome the shortage of labour in the field of agriculture for sowing the paddy crop, due to the prevailing lockdown, the Agriculture Department has introduced a novel scheme Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) Culture for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. The DSR refers to the process of establishing a paddy crop from seeds sown in the field rather than by transplanting seeding from nursery. This novel mechanism will help in improving short duration and high yielding varieties, nutrients and weed management techniques and encourage the farmers to shift from traditional system of transplanting to DSR culture said Arun Gupta , Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua .
He said that the Department has taken initiative to introduce the DSR technology first time in J&K following the labour crisis in lockdown as a large number of migratory laborers returned to their home states after the lock down. He said that the DSR culture also saves the irrigation water, it involves lowest sowing cost, good yield and the mission of PM Modi to double the income of farmers is also fulfilled though this novel technique. The biggest component is saving money and time. Besides, the farmers are encouraged towards new tactics and technology in the field of agriculture following the day to day challenges faced by them all over the country. The new technique guarantees high yield in agriculture produce, he added.
The DSR culture was introduced at village Saidpur, Nagari in the presence of numbers of farmers by Chief Agriculture Officer, Kathua, Arun Gupta and district Agriculture Officer, Extension, Sanjiv Rai Gupta.
The farmers have new experience of DSR culture as some farmers have taken its trial in wheat sowing season and got good results. The farmers said that its good option to replace the labour with DSR culture involving lowest cost of sowing and minimum efforts in the field.