Now, Punjab farmers can opt for DSR till July 4

Muktsar, June 30

After failing to achieve its target of bringing 12 lakh hectares under the direct seeding of rice (DSR) technique, the Agriculture Department has again extended the deadline from June 30 to July 4. Initially, the deadline was May 31.

However, as of now, just about 77,000 hectares have been brought under the DSR technique. Notably, this is for the first time when the state government has announced to give an incentive of Rs 1,500 per acre to the farmers opting this water saving technique. However, the farmers are still not enthused and worried about excessive weeds in the crop. The closure of Sirhind Feeder Canal due to a breach is also to be blamed as water was not available in some Malwa districts in May.

Gurpreet Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, said: “In our district, nearly 24,000 hectares have been brought under the DSR technique. The farmers are sowing basmati through this water-saving technique. We are hopeful that this practice will continue for next about a week. Thus we had requested the authorities to extend the deadline.”