Farmers opt for DSR as workers seek higher pay
Ruchika M Khanna
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 31
As the skilled labour for paddy transplantation jacked up rates to unprecedented levels this year, farmers plan to go in for direct seeding of rice (DSR) in a major way.
Though there is no shortage of labour, as was the case amid lockdown last year, they are demanding anything around Rs 3,500-4,500 per acre for the job. Last year, 5.50 lakh hectare was cultivated through DSR. Though initially the government had proposed to double the area to be sown through DSR, high labour rates are now forcing farmers to ditch the traditional paddy transplantation, raising hopes that almost 40-50 per cent area may be cultivated through DSR.
Harwinder Singh of Rajgarh village says he will do direct seeding on 15 acres of his 29 acres under paddy. “There is no shortage of labour but the money they are asking for is too much. So, I have decided to opt for DSR. It has two-fold benefit — it is cheaper and also saves groundwater,” he said.
Lachchman Singh from Bhikhi village in Mansa said even the Punjab-based labour was demanding high charges. “I am using DSR on 50 acres I will cultivate this season. If I were to use the labour for transplantation of paddy, I would end up spending Rs 2 lakh just as labour charges (at Rs 4,000 per acre). But with DSR, my expenses would be cut to just Rs 60,000 (at Rs 1,200 per acre),” he said.
Anirudh Tewari, Financial Commissioner, Development, said the government had made a lot of efforts to promote DSR. “We organised 1,000 camps (one camp for every 10 villages) before the paddy-sowing season began to inform farmers about saving financial and environmental resources. Last year, DSR was used on 20 per cent of the area, but this year, the technology is likely to be used on 40-50 per cent,” he added.
