Labour woes, not subsidy, push Ludhiana farmers to direct seeding of rice

Despite government efforts to promote Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), only a limited number of farmers in Ludhiana have adopted the method this Kharif season. Although the area under DSR has more than doubled from last year, rising from 1,872 acres to 4,770 acres, the increase is largely attributed to labour shortages rather than the Rs 1,500 per acre subsidy, which farmers say is too low to incentivise the shift.

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Balkar Singh, a farmer from a village near Samrala, said, “Many labourers didn’t return after Operation Sindoor. With no help available, I saw DSR as the better option. It saved time and effort.”

Shamsher Singh, from a village near Maachiwara, added, “I’ve always followed the traditional method of transplantation. But this time, the labour didn’t arrive on schedule, and those available demanded high wages. Some villagers were already switching to DSR, so I took the plunge too.”

Their experiences reflect a growing trend across the district. While the government’s Rs 1,500 per acre subsidy has failed to trigger widespread adoption, the lack of affordable labour has nudged many farmers towards alternative approaches.

Despite initial reluctance, some farmers are now discovering benefits in DSR—including reduced water usage, better soil health, improved wheat yields and time saved during peak agricultural seasons.

The IC-DSR scheme, which offers a 70 per cent reimbursement for DSR equipment along with a Rs 1,500 per acre subsidy, is still viewed as insufficient. Many cultivators are demanding increased financial assistance and improved weed management tools.

“Firstly, the subsidy of Rs 1,500 per acre is too low, and secondly, one has to apply online, which can be cumbersome. The government should raise the subsidy to at least Rs 2,500 per acre,” said Harvinder Singh of Samrala.

Farmers are now urging the government to expand awareness campaigns and raise the subsidy amount to make DSR a viable alternative to traditional puddled transplanting. With labour becoming scarce and groundwater levels depleting, many believe the shift to DSR is not just practical but essential.

Chief Agricultural Officer Gurdeep Singh said transplantation is expected to continue until July 15 and the department anticipates that 2.58 lakh hectares of land will be cultivated with paddy this Kharif season. “An increase has been witnessed in the area under DSR. Slowly, farmers are moving towards this technology,” he said.

Experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) continue to emphasise DSR’s long-term benefits: 10–20 per cent water savings, improved groundwater recharge, enhanced residue management and higher wheat yields due to better soil structure.

Dr Buta Singh Dhillon, Agronomist at PAU, explained, “DSR saves between 10–20 per cent of irrigation water. This is primarily because it eliminates the need for nursery raising, which requires heavy watering and the puddling process to prepare fields. Apart from water savings, farmers also reduce labour costs and expenditure on machine inputs and their maintenance.”